Why did India not give follow on to Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma’s decision won hearts

New Delhi. The Indian team has tightened its grip on Bangladesh in the first test match being played in Chennai. After scoring a big score of 376 runs on the basis of Ravichandran Ashwin’s century in the first innings, India bundled out the visiting team for just 149 runs. After gaining a big lead of 227 runs in the first innings, Team India decided to bat again. The question in everyone’s mind is why captain Rohit Sharma did not give follow-on to Bangladesh.

Everyone’s eyes are on the two-Test match series being played between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh fans were expecting a good performance from the team which recently returned after defeating Pakistan at their home. After winning the toss, the Bangladesh captain decided to bowl first in Chennai. The bowlers proved the captain’s decision right by taking the first 6 wickets for just 144 runs, but after this Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja came and spoiled everything. Ashwin scored a brilliant century while Jadeja scored 86 runs. India’s first innings ended at 376 runs.

Why did Rohit Sharma not give follow on?
India bowled lethally as per its name and bowled out Bangladesh for just 149 runs in the first innings. Captain Rohit Sharma had the opportunity to give the team a follow-on but he/she did not do so. When any team has a lead of more than 200 runs, then it has the opportunity to force the opposing team to bat again. Captain Rohit Sharma did not do this with Bangladesh. The reason behind this was the workload of the bowlers.

Follow on puts pressure on the bowlers
Giving a follow-on to any team means that the team that is bowling will have to keep bowling continuously and this puts pressure on them. The Chennai pitch seemed to be helpful for fast bowlers. If Rohit Sharma had forced Bangladesh to bat continuously in the second innings, then there would have been pressure on his/her bowlers. The captain does not want the workload on his/her bowlers to increase. It is hot in Chennai and this increases the risk of bowlers getting injured. In such a situation, Rohit Sharma’s decision of not giving a follow-on is commendable.