Dhoni in Test match #16

India vs Bangladesh, India in Bangladesh Test Series (2007) - 1st Test
Date: 18-22 May 2007

Day 4 (21 May 2007):

So near, yet so far! The familiar story of the Indian cricket team's performance abroad. It doesn't change whether the opponent is Australia or Bangladesh. India was all over the Bangladeshis when they pushed them to 149-8. But, the match slipped away slowly when they allowed Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain to accumulate 77 runs for the ninth wicket. They have avoided the follow-on in the way. The absence of Kumble, due to illness, really hurt the Indian plans. Mortaza was the hero of the match so far, he took 4 wickets and has scored 79 runs from just 91 deliveries.

When India batted the second time, they had to run for safety as Jaffer went for a duck again and then Dravid followed immediately. With the score just reading 6/2, Karthik and Tendulkar had to play to save the match. At the end of the day, they had accumulated 44/2, an overall lead of 193 runs, still far away from a position to press for victory.

Early in the day, India expected some fireworks from Dhoni. But, he fell without adding to his overnight score. The Indian declaration came with that at 387/8.