UPDATE – 5.06 am GMT – We are hearing that both teams, who had arrived at the venue, have now returned to their hotel. Things are looking quite bleak for any sort of action today. For now, all we can do is hope for the situation to improve. Stay tuned for more news.

India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test, Day 2 Live: Team India returns to hotel

The situation hasn’t got any better in Kanpur. Incessant rain isn’t allowing the play to start and the covers are still on. CricketNext has learned that the Indian team has returned to the team hotel which means the second day will be called off soon without a single ball being bowled.

UPDATE – A bit of positive news as it has stopped raining in Kanpur. However, there doesn’t seem to be any movement on the ground yet, with the covers still firmly in place.

Back to Sri Lanka, where Kamindu Mendis’s impressive 182, along with centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, have propelled the hosts to a commanding total of 602. Batting late on Day 2, New Zealand found themselves in early trouble, losing both openers and now face a challenging situation as they look to steady the ship. With Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat, it’ll be intriguing to see how the visitors respond on Day 3. It’s nice and sunny in Galle, where the day has just begun. You can switch tabs and follow all the action as it unfolds!

Moving to England now, where the hosts, trailing 0-2 in the ODI series against their old rivals Australia, have staged a remarkable comeback to bring the series level. In a rain-affected fourth ODI at Lord’s, England set a formidable total of 312 in a 39-overs-per-side contest after being put into bat. Key contributions from Ben Duckett and Harry Brook anchored the innings, but it was Liam Livingstone who stole the show with a blistering 27-ball 62, including an explosive final over where he clattered Mitchell Starc for 28 runs. In reply, Australia started brightly with a solid opening partnership, but once that 68-run stand was broken, the wheels fell off and they were eventually bowled out for 126 inside 25 overs. As neutrals, we all wanted the series to go the distance, and our prayers have been answered. The series decider is set to take place in Bristol on Sunday, September 29, where rain is likely to follow the two teams, but let’s hope for the best!

Over in the UAE, after a disappointing ODI series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, South Africa have drawn first blood in their T20I series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi. The Proteas secured a fairly dominant victory, showcasing their prowess both with bat and ball, taking an unassailable lead in the two-match series. Patrick Kruger’s impressive four-wicket haul was instrumental in restricting the Irish to 171, while the opening duo of Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks played pivotal roles in powering South Africa to a comfortable win. The second and final T20I of the series is scheduled for September 29th, Sunday, as the Proteas look to complete a clean sweep. Meanwhile, Ireland will aim to end the series on level terms and gain momentum heading into the ODI series that follows.

While we await improvements in the weather in Kanpur, let’s take a moment to recap an action-packed Friday in the cricketing world! One of the standout performances came from Sri Lanka’s latest batting sensation, Kamindu Mendis, who made headlines by etching his name in the history books. He equalled the legendary Sir Don Bradman by reaching 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings, marking the second-fewest innings taken to achieve this milestone in Test history. Only Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes have accomplished this feat in fewer innings, both achieving it in just 12 innings.

UPDATE – 3.36 am GMT – Live visuals show that it’s still drizzling, and the entire ground is under covers. The match officials, armed with umbrellas, are inspecting the outfield, which has taken a hit due to the incessant rains over the past day and a half. Abhinav Mukund informs us that the rain had stopped briefly earlier, and just as the ground staff began removing the covers, the rain made an unwelcome return. The match officials are now heading towards the Bangladesh camp, where the two on-field umpires are sharing their observations with head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. Stay tuned for more updates.

UPDATE – 3.21 am GMT – We have official confirmation that the start of play on Day 2 has been delayed due to rain. It’s a similar start to the day as yesterday, but remember, we did manage to get the game underway after an hour’s delay. Let’s hope for a repeat today, if not an earlier start. Stick around for more news.

UPDATE – 3.10 am GMT – Well, not the start any of us would have hoped for as a drizzle has settled in at Kanpur. That puts the possibility of an early start out of the picture, but let’s remain optimistic that the rain will ease off soon and conditions will improve in time for play to begin at the usual time of 4 am GMT. Stay tuned for further updates!

33.2 – FOUR! Made it look very easy! Akash Deep digs it short and over off, Mominul Haque waits back, watches the ball and just ramps it over the slip cordon for a boundary.

33.3 – Switches to over the wicket and hurls it on a good length, on middle and leg, Mominul Haque with not much of foot movement looks to play at it with a straight bat. Gets an inside edge back onto the pads.

33.4 – A perfect pearl! Bangs it into the deck, on a back of a length around middle and angles it away, with some extra zip off the deck. Mominul Haque is stuck in the crease and looks to keep it out but misses on the outside edge.

As we gear up for Day 2, the forecast doesn’t look promising, with more rain looming on the horizon. But if we’re fortunate enough to avoid the showers, we could be in for another gripping day of Test cricket. In rain-affected Tests like this one, lost time is often made up by starting the day early, and that could be the case today, weather permitting. So, stay tuned as we bring you all the action from Kanpur!

The second session was delayed by a brief shower, but once play resumed, Ravichandran Ashwin quickly sent the Bangladesh skipper packing. Despite looking scratchy at times, Mominul hung in there alongside Mushfiqur Rahim as the light began to fade. However, just 9 overs into the session, bad light forced the players off the field, and soon after, rain dashed any hopes of further play for the day.

The action on Day 1 began after an hour’s delay due to overnight rain, with Rohit Sharma electing to bowl first. Bangladesh’s openers showed some fight early on, but it wasn’t long before India’s Akash Deep made his mark, dismissing both openers with disciplined bowling. Najmul Hossain Shanto looked assured at the crease, while Mominul Haque, despite a nervy start, found a way to settle in, guiding Bangladesh to Lunch with minimal damage.

Hello and a warm welcome, folks, to Day 2 of the second Test between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur! Day 1 was marred by rain, allowing only 35 overs of play, but both teams managed to land a few blows, setting up what promises to be a fascinating second day, provided the weather cooperates.

… DAY 2, SESSION 1 …

Right then, India have made the most of the time they’ve had with the ball and will likely be the slightly happier side at the end of Day 1. However, Bangladesh have shown resilience and will be eager to continue their fight heading into Day 2. Given the time lost today, we might be in for an early start on Day 2, that is the 28th of September, although there’s no official confirmation yet. Be sure to join us early as we build up to what promises to be another interesting day of Test cricket. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The second session saw India make a breakthrough with Ravichandran Ashwin trapping Najmul Hossain Shanto in front of the stumps. Mominul Haque, however, continued to show his mettle, riding his luck while ensuring that the bad balls were punished. Alongside him, Mushfiqur Rahim adopted a cautious approach, settling in well. Just as Bangladesh looked to build momentum, bad light descended, followed closely by rain, bringing a premature end to a gripping day’s play.