Najmul Hossain remains uncertain about Kanpur pitch behavior as rain disrupts Test

With two days of rain disruptions in the India vs Bangladesh Test at Kanpur’s Green Park, the match has only seen 35 overs bowled. Saturday’s play was washed out without a ball being bowled, with persistent drizzle followed by only light spells, but enough to keep the covers on. Frustration is mounting for both teams as rain has continuously affected play since the first day.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his disappointment over the delays. “As a player, it’s very frustrating,” Shanto shared after Day 2. “The game started with a lot of difficulties on Friday, we played for a while, then it stopped again. No play today… It’s really frustrating as a player. But it’s not in our control. It would feel better if there was some play.”
Pitch Behavior and Batting Performance
On Day 1, Bangladesh managed to score 107/3 in the limited play. Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s efforts to move the ball around in the morning and Akash Deep’s two crucial strikes, the Bangladesh batters seemed relatively comfortable. Shanto, who contributed a 31-run knock before being trapped leg-before by R Ashwin, noted that the surface was easy to bat on.
“The wicket was decent. I think the bigger challenge was to play through the numerous breaks on and off. The rain remains a continuous threat,” he said, suggesting that the weather made it difficult for the batters to settle in. He also admitted uncertainty about how the pitch will behave on Day 3 and Day 4, given the lack of sunshine and the impact of the weather on the playing surface.
Balance of the Match and Missed Opportunities
Bangladesh’s batting faced some struggles as Mohammed Siraj, despite bowling slightly short and struggling to exploit the slow pace, and Bumrah were largely kept at bay by the visitors. Akash Deep impressed with two early wickets, trapping Zakir Hussain and Shadman Islam. A crucial partnership between Mominul Haque and Shanto helped stabilize the innings, but Shanto’s dismissal shifted the momentum, leaving the match hanging in balance.
“I think we lost one extra wicket. We had a good start. I won’t say we are in a bad position, given the wicket we are playing on. We have a few more batters. If we can have two big partnerships, we can be in a good position. But at this moment, I think it’s balanced right now,” Shanto reflected.
Day 3 Outlook
The outlook for Sunday does not seem promising, with the likelihood of further rain threatening to wash out play. However, with World Test Championship points at stake, there remains the possibility of an aggressive approach from both teams in the remaining sessions, especially from India, to make the most of any play that becomes possible.