India Join Attacking Party as Shikhar Dhawan Flays Bangladesh

Brendon McCullum has a lot to answer for. After inciting England to take the all-out-attack route at Edgbaston on Tuesday, India followed suit in the Test match against Bangladesh on Wednesday. Shikhar Dhawan, with help from Murali Vijay, flayed a hapless home attack to all parts as India reached 239 without loss from just 56 overs at stumps on a rain-interrupted first day in Fatullah.

Dhawan's supercharged century shows just how much the game has changed in recent years. Appropriately, it's almost 40 years to the day since Sunil Gavaskar produced one of the most baffling innings in international history.

Chasing a nominal target of 335 in the first ever Cricket World Cup match against England in 1975, Gavaskar instead settled for some batting practice. His unbeaten 36 took a whopping 176 balls as India crawled along to a total of 132 for three from their 60 overs.

Dhawan managed to top India's 1975 total in just 134 balls, going on to finish unbeaten on 150 from 158 deliveries. Anyone waking up from a 1970s induced coma and presented with this must be wondering if it's even the same game they're watching.

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Murali Vijay & Shikhar Dhawan now recorded the highest opening stand for India against Bangladesh. #BANvsIND #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/WnPSqx7TXr

— Indian Cricket Team (@IndianCricNews) June 10, 2015"

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After struggling in Australia for much of the winter, Dhawan found a Bangladesh attack that featured four spinners and a single specialist seamer much more to his liking.

Making the most of an excellent pitch, the flighty left-hander was particularly harsh on anything dropped short and cracked 21 boundaries in his attacking masterclass.

Things could have been very different for Bangladesh had Shuvagata Hom managed to cling on to sharp chance at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Taijul Islam. Dhawan was on 73 at the time. A heavy shower brought a premature end to the morning session moments later with India firmly on top.

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Situation at Fatullah. Rainy and cloudy! More updates to come. #BANVIND pic.twitter.com/xMSS9y2wXf

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) June 10, 2015"

If the hosts thought the rain would come to their rescue they were to be disappointed. After a lengthy delay, Dhawan and Vijay picked up exactly where they left off, punishing anything slightly wayward.

A third Test century was a welcome return to form for the Indian opener who had passed 50 just once in his previous 13 innings in the five-day game.

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Dhawan Domination at Fatullah. He brings up his 3rd Test ton with ease. India 166/0 from 35.4 overs #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/RSBs9sF4xm

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 10, 2015"

Dhawan's Test career been a feast or famine affair to date. In his 23 innings prior to this Test, the left-hander was dismissed in single figures six times and had passed 50 on just four occasions. On two of them he went on to make a century. Get him early is the message for opposition bowlers.

Virat Kohli gave a hint of a more attacking Indian future during India's often thrilling but ultimately unsuccessful tour of Australia.

After a hugely disappointing capitulation against England in 2014, the Indians were more than happy to go toe-to-toe with their Antipodean rivals. The results may not have shown it, but a more attacking India was both great to watch and offered promise for the future.

That positive outlook appears to have continued into the Bangladesh Test. On a day truncated by bad weather, India could have easily opted to take the safety first approach. Instead, Dhawan and Vijay's attacking instincts have put India firmly ahead of the game.

According to Weather.com, more rain is expected to hit the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium over the next few days.

As New Zealand showed in the recent Test at Headingley, scoring quickly can take even lengthy delays out of the match equation. The Kiwis went on to win handily in Leeds.

A flat pitch and rotten weather may be the favourites to decide the outcome of this match. Shikhar Dhawan's heroics have certainly given the Indians a fighting chance.