The Indian team performed superbly in the first test match against Bangladesh as they won it by 280 runs and the Indian bowling unit was also praised a lot for dismissing the Bangladeshi team two times in the match.
Last month, former South African pacer Morne Morkel was appointed as India’s bowling coach and Chennai test was his debut match with the Indian team in which the bowlers delivered an impressive performance against Bangladesh. While legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remained wicketless in the first innings, he came back strong, claiming six wickets in the second. Jasprit Bumrah (4 wickets in the first innings, 1 in the second) and Ravindra Jadeja (2, 3) also contributed significantly, each dismissing five Bangladeshi batters across the two innings.
Before joining the Indian team, Morkel served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2023. However, his time with the Men in Green was marked by disappointment. The former Pakistani player turned cricket expert, Basit Ali, criticized the Pakistani bowlers for showing disrespect to Morkel, stating that some players consider themselves “bigger than the game”. This mentality, according to Basit Ali, contributed to Pakistan’s underperformance under Morkel’s coaching.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali said that some Pakistani bowlers considered Morne Morkel nothing in front of them, in fact they feel that they are bigger than the game.
Following India’s dominant 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the series opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Basit Ali remarked on the stark difference between the mindsets of Indian and Pakistani players. He praised India’s professionalism and focus, contrasting it with Pakistan’s struggles.
Basit Ali stated that with this match, they get to know the difference in the mindsets of Indian and Pakistan cricketers because it is the same Bangladeshi which whitewashed Pakistan and the Pakistan team was always on backfoot in front of them. He added that as far as Indian and Pakistani teams are concerned, there is a lot of difference in mindset, class and thinking as well.
Before facing India, Bangladesh played a two-match test series against Pakistan. For the first time in history, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in a red-ball series, making the result even more surprising as it happened on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s inability to leverage home conditions added to the embarrassment.
After the ongoing test series, the second match of which is scheduled for Friday (September 27) at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, Bangladesh will also compete against India in a three-match T20I series starting on October 6 in Gwalior.
