The fans were left with poralised opinions whether India got their decision-making right after dismissing the hosts for a paltry 150 having posted 404 runs themselves.
Social media was left in a split over India’s decision not to enforce the follow on in the Chattogram Test match against Bangladesh on Friday (December 16). As stand-in India skipper KL Rahul decided not to put Bangladesh in again despite getting a lead of 254 runs, fans were left in a puzzle whether to criticise or to understand where the tourists came from.
Some termed the decision ‘defensive’, in that they thought India didn’t go for the kill aggressively enough against an opposition they had just bundled out for a paltry 151 after posting an imposing 404 of their own in the first-innings.
But some came out in support of the call made by Rahul, who decided to give his men the chance to get some runs under their belt while also providing extra breather to the bowling unit in what is a two-match series with back-to-back Tests.
One other reason may have been to get more overs and sun-baking on a track that was still quite good for batting and completely nullify the chance for Bangladesh to comeback and give India a tricky score to chase in the final innings.
Either way, India decision divided opinions on Twitter, where some felt the decision was overly protective and insecure, but some gave it a thumbs up, recognising the benefits of batting again even as India led the Test by 250 odd runs.
What triggered the naysaying over India’s decision is the fact that their bowling unit had only delivered a sum total of 55.5 overs with an overnight break in the first-innings when Bangladesh got out. But equally in support could be the thought that it gave India the chance to put in more runs on the board while the surface was still playing good for India.
Here is how the Twitterati reacted:
India not enforcing the follow on seems less of a tactical move and more of being conscious about workload management. #BANvIND
— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) December 16, 2022
With so much time left in the game, KL Rahul should make his own runs. With literally no scoreboard pressure, he can bat freely as he is known to and score a hundred and get a lot of confidence for matches ahead.#INDvBAN
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) December 16, 2022
Attacking approach would’ve been enforcing the follow-on
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 16, 2022
India leading with 250+ runs on the morning of third day. Is this not attacking cricket? https://t.co/xVXY0WkLw4
— 𝓜𝓮𝓰𝓱? 🏏 (@CricMegha) December 16, 2022
Should have enforced the follow on. India had bowled only 55 overs.
— Naren VJ (@narenvj21) December 16, 2022
People will write nonsense whatever came there mind. Not enforcing follow on is much much better thing than enforcing it because batters need more game time because lack of test cricket they are playing plus they don’t have time to play FC cricket frequently https://t.co/aL9IxkCwra
— Rahul Sharma (@rahul95_sharma) December 16, 2022
India not enforcing the follow-on either shows a defensive mindset or batters, led by KL Rahul himself, want some runs under their belt in the second inns. #INDvBAN
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) December 16, 2022
Marne se pehle ek baar bas ek baar India ko follow-on dete dekhna chahta hu.
— Abijit Ganguly (@AbijitG) December 16, 2022
Under Kohli, India had a chance to enforce follow-on 16 times.
Enforced: 8 times (won 6, drawn 2)
Not enforced: 8 times (won 8)-Drawn tests: Fatullah 2015, Sydney 2019 (both were heavily rain affected games) https://t.co/MZs6JvWRus
— Rohit Yadav (@cricrohit) December 16, 2022
Follow on is the last option you take when you are running short of time or there’s weather around. Just to win approval of some, teams won’t bowl their key men into the dirt with 3 first-choice bowlers already unavailable.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) December 16, 2022
As it panned out, India stretched massive their first-innings lead to 324 runs with an opening partnership of 70 runs between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, before Rahul got out for 23. Gill stayed intact, however, and continued to make an impressive half-century.
