Sparks Fly Again: Kohli and Mushfiqur's Rivalry Takes Center Stage
A Test cricket field is rarely short of drama, but few rivalries find themselves so openly discussed in the commentary box as that of Virat Kohli and Mushfiqur Rahim. This old wound was poked by none other than former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, who, while sharing commentary duties on the second day of the ongoing India vs Bangladesh Test, couldn’t help but stir the pot. As Mushfiqur walked in to bat with Kohli waiting in the slips, Tamim gave listeners something extra to anticipate: 'Mushfiqur Rahim is batting, Virat Kohli is in the slips. Watch out now. Keep an eye on them. They have quite the history.'
Ravi Shastri, never one to shy away from a bit of fun himself, prodded further: 'What history?' Tamim shot back with the cheeky, 'Oh, you know, Ravi. You know what history I am talking about.' The moment needed no further explanation for those who’ve followed recent Indo-Bangladesh Test clashes. On more than one occasion, Kohli has been heard exchanging heated words and pointed smiles with Mushfiqur, who has not been shy about acknowledging the psychological warfare he faces from the Indian star.
Bangladesh Falter Under Pressure, Indian Pacers Dominate
In the game itself, the tension between personalities was only matched by the gulf in team performances. Bangladesh, starting their reply to India’s daunting 376, found themselves in early trouble as wickets tumbled. The bowling trio of India didn’t need to say much as the ball did most of the talking—Bangladesh’s batters, including Mushfiqur himself, found runs hard to come by.
Shakib Al Hasan tried to steady the ship and managed a gritty 32, the highest of the lot, but the rest of the line-up crumbled, laboring to just 149. Mushfiqur’s stay at the crease, always scrutinized for body language whenever Kohli is close by, was short-lived. The much-hyped tension between him and the Indian slip cordon didn’t change the facts on the scorecard.
With Bangladesh staring at a huge deficit, India had the option to enforce the follow-on. Instead, Rohit Sharma and his team decided against it. The move seemed calculated, letting the batters get time in the middle and stretching that already substantial 227-run lead even further. On a pitch offering seam movement and some variable bounce, this only spelled more trouble for the visitors.
The rest of the match played out in much the same tone—Bangladesh struggling against a relentless Indian attack, and Kohli’s presence, whether at slip or with the bat, never too far from the action. Off the field, the trio of Tamim, Shastri, and the ever-rumbling spotlight on Kohli ensured the mind games continued for viewers and listeners. For anyone who thought rivalries in cricket had mellowed with time, Chennai’s Test had other ideas.
