Port of Spain: The Indian cricket team showcased a rare display of ultra-attacking long format cricket during the ongoing second Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain, setting new Test record books ablaze. On day four of the Test, India’s second innings witnessed an explosive white-ball cricket mode as they smashed 181 runs in just 24 overs before declaring, achieving the highest team run rate in a Test inning lasting a minimum of 20 overs.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid seemed to embrace a new approach, taking a leaf out of England’s ‘Bazball’ school of cricket, which emphasises positive and attacking gameplay to achieve clear results. This style of play, referred to as ‘Dravball,’ proved to be a thrilling exhibition of aggressive cricket.
The Indian team’s run rate of 7.54 during the second innings surpassed the previous record set by Australia, who had scored 241/2 in just 32 overs against Pakistan in Sydney back in 2017, achieving a run rate of 7.53.
The team also etched their names in history by smashing the fastest team hundred in Test cricket. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the inning and swiftly put together a stand of 98 runs in just 71 balls, equivalent to 11.5 overs. Following Rohit’s dismissal, India reached the 100-run mark in a mere 12.2 overs, totaling only 74 balls. This broke a 22-year-old record previously held by Sri Lanka, which reached the 100-run mark in 13.2 overs (80 balls) during the Asian Test Championship against Bangladesh in 2001.
The Indian batsmen showcased their aggressive form, with Rohit Sharma smashing the fastest half-century of his career in just 35 balls, reminiscent of his T20 avatar. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan also joined the party by reaching his half-century in just 33 balls, becoming the second-fastest Indian wicketkeeper to do so. Rishabh Pant holds the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian keeper, accomplishing the feat in just 28 balls.
At the time of declaration, Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 52 runs from 34 balls, boasting a strike rate of 152.94. This impressive strike rate placed him fourth on the list of Indian players with the highest strike rate in a Test inning (of a minimum of 50 runs). Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev holds the record with a strike rate of 162.73, achieved during his explosive 89-run knock off 55 balls against England at Lord’s in 1982.
While India’s ultra-attacking approach garnered attention, the team also set a massive target of 365 runs for the West Indies to win the second Test. At the end of day four, the West Indies were at 76/2, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24*) and Jermaine Blackwood (20*) at the crease.
Earlier, in reply to India’s first innings total of 438, the West Indies were bundled out for 255 runs, trailing by 183 runs. Skipper Kraigg Braithwaite top-scored for the Windies with 75 runs.
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