Twitter Reactions: Mushfiqur Rahim defies India in the second innings after Virat Kohli's ton at the Eden Gardens

Ever since India bundled out Bangladesh for just 106 runs in the first innings, the result of the ongoing day-night Test was never in question. It was all about how much India will score and will their best batsman Virat Kohli score a big one. Well, he did! The Indian captain finally scored a century, his 27th in Tests, and yet again a plethora of records were broken and created.

And it is needless to say that India are on the verge of yet another innings victory at the Eden Gardens. The hosts declared their innings at 347/9 with a lead of 241 runs and there was a possibility of the match ending inside two days. Bangladesh began their second innings the same way and were in total tatters within the first 6.4 overs.

They were reeling at 13/4 with Ishant Sharma breathing fire at the Mecca of Indian cricket with the new ball. He pinned Shadman Islam in front of the stumps in the very first over and then bowled a beauty of an inswinger to the opposition skipper Mominul Haque who bagged a pair in the game. Mohammad Mithun and Imraul Kayes followed suit soon with Umesh Yadav also joining the party.

This is where two of the most experienced Bangladesh batsmen, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, joined hands and played counterattacking cricket. The duo bravely faced the Indian fast bowling trio and played their shots as well. Both of them scored some quick runs which relieved the Bangladesh fans. But just when it looked like they will go unscathed until stumps, Mahmudullah struggled with cramps and walked off.

However, Rahim continued to defy the home side and struck a brilliant half-century even as Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam were dismissed at the fag end of the day. The visitors finished the day on 152 runs for the loss of six wickets and with Mahmudullah injured, they have only three wickets in hand to avoid an innings defeat. Bangladesh are still 89 runs away from making India bat again and even this game is set for a three-day finish.

Virat Kohli slams yet another Test ton

Earlier in the day, it was all about the Indian captain Virat Kohli who registered his 27th ton in the format. He was absolutely unfazed with the movement Bangladesh fast bowlers were getting with the pink ball and played some exceptional strokes during his stay in the middle. He got to the three-figure mark in front of the 42,667 people present at the Eden Gardens.

Rather Kohli looked set for a double hundred at one stage only to be undone by the brilliance from Taijul Islam at the boundary. The former played nonchalant flick in the air off Ebadot Hossain and the ball was travelling to the boundary. But Taijul who was stationed at fine leg timed his jump perfectly to pluck the ball out of thin air. Kohli got out after scoring 136 runs and Bangladesh got some more quick wickets soon.

They got the ball to talk and India’s lower middle-order didn’t have much answers to them. From being 308/5 at the one stage, they were reduced to 331/9 and even though the last wicket stand added 16 runs, Kohli decided to declare the innings to test his bowlers under the lights.

Well, they didn’t disappoint at all as India are only four wickets away from the victory and they will undoubtedly add 60 more World Test Championship points to their kitty on Sunday.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: