Veteran Indian cricketer Virat Kohli dropped Mominul Haque at first slip to allow the batsman to reach a well-deserved hundred. Mominul was batting on 95 when Kohli dropped the catch off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj bowled a length ball that crossed the left-hander as the ball took the outside edge and headed towards Kohli’s left. However, the capture was not easy as it continued to move away from him. Kohli tried to reach the ball and got his left hand but couldn’t hold it.
The catch was also at a good height, but too far from Kohli’s reach. Mominul also seemed a little circumspect in his defense. It finally resulted in a single to third man.
Watch: Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma involved in brutal fight after sloppy fielding
Watch: Virat Kohli drops Mominul Haque just before his hundred
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Virat Kohli looked disappointed as he failed to retain the catch. It would have been a magnificent capture of the legend if he had kept it.
Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj make brilliant catches
Before this moment, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj took India’s catching standards to unprecedented levels by taking two excellent catches. Rohit jumped perfectly to take a one-handed catch that helped India get the big wicket of Litton Das.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj went a step further and took another great catch for another big wicket from Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib came down the track and tried to attack R Ashwin. Siraj stepped back from the middle of play and kept his eyes on the ball despite the sunlight and made an important catch.
However, Kohli could not maintain the good catching session for India and bowled Mominul when he was five runs short of his century. Virat Kohli is usually a safe fielder, but he has dropped a no. of captures before.
However, he is a reliable outfielder and is also athletic, allowing him to move quickly. The catch would have gone straight to second slip, but unfortunately there was no second slip during that time.
Mominul Haque completes his centenary
Taking advantage of the dropped catch, the experienced Bangladesh batsman completed his hundred in the next over sweeping bowler R Ashwin for a square four behind.
It was the 13th Test ton for Mominul Haque as he finally played an important innings on Indian soil. It was a brilliant move by the left-hander who single-handedly carried Bangladesh’s hopes.
Of the 205 runs scored by Bangladesh till lunch, Mominul scored 102, proving the value of his innings. The wickets continued to fall, but the left-hander stayed at the crease despite feeling uncomfortable at times.
India will try to quickly conclude Bangladesh’s innings to force a result in the next two days. Days 2 and 3 of the Kanpur Test were canceled due to rain.