India v Bangladesh Second Test: Expert Predictions & Analysis

India v Bangladesh predictions: 

• India to win - 1.50 @ Rajabets Sports
• Shakib Al Hasan under 3.5 match wickets - 1.66 @ Rajabets Sports
• Ravichandran Ashwin over 5.5 match wickets - 1.66 @ Rajabets Sports

When: Friday 27 August, 9:30am IST

Where: Green Park, Kanpur

Watch: Sports 18, JioCinema

Best Odds: India 1.50, Draw 2.75, Bangladesh 26

India extended their lead at the top of the World Test Championship with last week’s thumping 280-run win over Bangladesh in Chennai to take a 71% win rate into this week’s second match in Kanpur. 

A potentially drastic change in conditions has significantly altered the win market on cricket betting sites with India now at a backable price thanks to a potentially flatter pitch and the threat of thunderstorms.

After Ravichandran Ashwin and Taskin Ahmed delivered us a 20% profit from the First Test in Chennai, we too will be hoping to go 2-0 up heading into the white ball action next month!

The Numbers That Matter

• Mohammed Siraj has just 15 wickets from 11 home Tests
• Rohit Sharma v Bangladesh in Tests: 6, 6, 21, 6, 5
• Nahid Rana bowled 23 balls to Yashasvi Jaiswal for 2-5 last week
• Virat Kohli went past 50 once in his last 17 home innings (186 v Australia in Ahmedabad)

India to defy conditions above and below to win

Fortunately the latest forecast before the game suggests that rain and storms won’t play enough of a part to force this game into draw territory, whilst both India and Bangladesh have done enough in recent years (for better or for worse) to suggest a result is well within reach of this match.

India possess the bowling skill required to take 20 wickets in any conditions around the world, illustrated by them winning at least one match in each of their last six away tours as well as in their last 39 series on home soil.

That’s because they boast the accuracy and consistent accuracy to build pressure against a batting side with some technical deficiencies, albeit one that performed excellently on flatter pitches against Pakistan.

Considering the pace at which India’s batters can move the game along with the bat, such as their second innings run rate of 4.48rpo to drive the knife in last week, they’re more than capable of playing the attacking game needed to secure victory even with interruptions. 

The last two Kanpur Tests, both of which were against New Zealand, went to day five. But the hosts won both and we’re expecting them to get only better here.

Prediction: India to win - 1.50 @ Rajabets Sports

Shakib’s physical woes are evident

A brief training session for Shakib Al Hasan on Wednesday followed a very poor performance in Chennai that sparked concerns about his physical fitness, following a spate of problems such as complications from a recent finger surgery on his bowling hand, left shoulder soreness and an eye issue that kept him out of the game for a couple of months.

Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha told the press he was completely unaware of any potential injury to Shakib, which was at odds with BCCI broadcaster Murali Kartik who revealed last week that Shakib had been playing in Chennai with finger and shoulder problems.

Add to that an eye-catching decision to bat with a piece of strapping between his teeth to keep his head upright, and Bangladesh’s oldest Test cricketer appears in no state whatsoever to perform up to his usual standards. 

That’s why punters have already jumped on him to take fewer than 3.5 match wickets following the most expensive bowling figures of his Test career and just the fifth instance of a wicketless match with at least 20 overs bowled.

Prediction: Shakib Al Hasan under 3.5 match wickets - 1.66 @ Rajabets Sports

Let’s keep a good thing going, Ash Anna

One of the favourites of this blog made us sweat for our collect last week when he cleared the 5.5 match wicket mark set by Indian betting apps despite a wicketless first innings. 

The Chennai pitch was nothing in the realms of a ‘rank turner’ by the time Bangladesh’s second innings rolled around on day three, but he worked his way into the match and steamrolled a top and middle order stacked with left handers. 

He’s an incredibly crafty bowler that doesn’t need dry, spinning pitches to do some of his best work - see his 114 wickets at an average of 27 in England as an example - but on home soil he continues to produce remarkable results.

He has taken at least six match wickets in 16 of his last 18 home Tests, so why wouldn’t we accept the opportunity to back him to do it for a 17th time in 19?

Especially when his four bowling innings in Kanpur, both against New Zealand, all returned at least three wickets each. 

On top of that, he’s taken six wickets in three of his seven career games against Bangladesh and five in another two, so on both long and short term form he looks well placed to repeat the damage.

Prediction: Ravichandran Ashwin over 5.5 match wickets - 1.66 @ Rajabets Sports