BAN vs IND 2022: It was possible to bowl them out – Taijul Islam rues missed opportunities

Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam rued the missed opportunities on the opening day of the first Test match against India at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chhatogram on Wednesday. India finished the first day’s play with 278-6 after KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat first.

Bangladesh got off to a good start as they had India on the mat at 48-3 but they couldn’t grab their chances in the field. Nurul Hasan bungled Cheteshwar Pujara’s catch on the second ball after the Lunch break when the right-hander was only on 12 runs.

The Bangladesh wicket-keeper then dropped a difficult catch when Shreyas Iyer’s outside edge was induced when the right-hander was on 30. Ebadot Hossain then dropped a simple catch of Iyer when he was batting on 67 towards the fag end of the opening day.

Pujara then went on to score 90 runs whereas Iyer scored 86 runs and thus the home team had to pay for the missed opportunities.

“I totally agree and you can say that (we could have bowled them out if we had taken those chances). If they had lost five to six wickets with 10 to 15 overs in our hand then it was possible to bowl them out,” said Taijul at the end of the day’s play. “Considering everything I don’t think we are in a very bad position and in fact in a good position as this is only the first day of the Test match. If we had not made the mistakes we would have been in a better position.”

Islam provided two early breakthroughs for the Tigers as he accounted for Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. The left-arm orthodox plumbed Virat Kohli for a solitary run to put his team in front in the opening session.

“I have picked up the wicket of Virat earlier in my career so doesn’t need to be the highlight of my career,” he said.

Islam added he was happy after dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara with a peach of a delivery.

“I think the line and length was good and perhaps he missed on quite a few occasions but I felt that the ball (which removed Pujara) turned quite sharply. “He felt it will be straight but as it turned it hit the stump.”

Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh on Day 1 and he could have had Shreyas Iyer’s wicket if Nurul Hasan had grabbed the catch. India have posted 404 runs in the first innings.