Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag on Thursday lavished praise on his bowlers for the team’s comprehensive 113-run win over Bangladesh in the first cricket Test here on Thursday.
Sehwag said after his side’s famed batting order folded for 243 in the first innings, it was important not to let the hosts take a lead and the Indian bowlers stuck to that task, restricting Bangladesh to 242 in their first essay.
“It’s nice to have a win in pocket. We were charged up after Bangladesh bowled us for under 250 in the first innings.
The bowlers did a terrific job by not letting them take lead,” Sehwag said after the match.
“Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant (Sharma) were outstanding with the new ball. Both Ishant and Zaheer were quick and got bounce from the wicket,” he said.
The Indian bowlers did a tidy job in the second innings as well, bowling out the hosts for 301.
Sehwag was of the view that India would have to play consistently well, if they desired to remain the number one Test team.
“We have to play good cricket throughout if we have to stay at the number one spot,” Sehwag said.
Man of the Match Sachin Tendulkar also lauded the Indian bowlers for not allowing Bangladesh to dominate the match.
“The bowlers fought back nicely and got them out for 242 (in the first innings) which was terrific,” Tendulkar said.
He also said that his 44th Test century in India’s first innings was a special one for him as it came at a crucial juncture and helped the team.
“The century was an important one because we lost wickets at that stage after a good opening partnership. The conditions were little difficult because the spinners were in action, and the ball was also not coming onto the bat,” said Tendulkar, whose unbeaten 105 pulled India out of the hole in the first innings.
Home side captain Shakib Al Hasan lamented about their failure to seize the initiative in the first innings and he blamed the batsmen for squandering the advantage.
“We didn’t bat well in the first innings. We played too many rash shots. Although the bowlers did a fantastic job in the first innings, we need to improve in all departments,” Shakib said.
“We thought we had a great chance of taking a lead of 100 runs in the first innings but some rash shots did us in,” he said.
The Bangladesh skipper had a word of praise for wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who struck a defiant 101 in the second innings to reduce the margin of defeat.
“He played really well, he played some fantastic shots.”
