Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan no fan of Virat Kohli’s art of innings building

Bangladesh cricket team’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was unrepentant after holing out while being well set, dismissing a suggestion he should learn from the India cricket team skipper Virat Kohli.

Bangladesh’s best and most charismatic batsman Shakib al Hasan has made it a habit to leave his countrymen shaken and heartbroken.

India cricket team skipper Virat Kohli scored 204 in the first innings against Bangladesh cricket team in Hyderabad. (PTI)

Shakib, who had reached 82 and was closing in on his fifth Test century, was needed by Bangladesh to carry on in their first-ever Test in India. However, he tried to hit out and miscued to be caught at mid on at a crucial stage. (Day 3 highlights)

This isn’t the first time that he is playing such a rash shot when well set. Over the last five innings --- including this one --- he has done it thrice. It even cost Bangladesh a Test in New Zealand. (Scorecard)

Asked by a Bangladesh reporter if he would like learn from Virat Kohli (he scored 204) and try to build his innings to help Bangladesh’s cause, Shakib smiled, shaking his head without replying.

In the past too, he has said he’d like to continue the way he has been playing and changing anything would hurt his batting.

In fact, Shakib seems to have a point. When Umesh Yadav was firing on all cylinders, making life tough for the Bangladesh batsmen, it was the left-hander who took him on, playing shots that may have been risky. Shakib began by smashing Umesh, slashing his wide deliveries, and then scooped one over point that could have easily gone anywhere.

He then slog-swept Ravindra Jadeja for a boundary, making his intentions clear.

Attacking Ashwin

But the most impressive bit was the way he counter-attacked Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. While the England and New Zealand batsmen, who toured India earlier in the season, seemed to suffer a brain freeze against Ashwin, Shakib danced down the track to smash him over the cover region at least twice.

He may have played shots one too many but it was his counter-attacking knock that eventually put India on the back foot.”I like to play shots. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes I am not. I don’t really think about it as this is my natural game,” said Shakib.

“To me, it was a good wicket. It wasn’t helping spinners that much. I know I can be positive, I can move my feet. I was trying to be as positive as I can and look to score runs rather than just blocking balls.”