Bangladesh seek redemption to level T20 series against India

Bangladesh sought an improved performance to deny a further Indian juggernaut when they take on the hosts in the second T20 International in India’s capital Delhi tomorrow (Wednesday). The match starts at 7.30 PM (Bangladesh Time).

A defeat in the second match would ruin Bangladesh’s all hopes to win the series, a target that they set ahead of leaving the country.

The Tigers, as it is adorably called, were thrashed severely by a brutal Indian side in the first T20 game that gave the impression that they could hardly put a fight in the next two matches.

In an otherwise good batting track, Bangladesh came up with an abysmal batting show to be all out for 127 in 19.5 overs, a total that India gunned down with 49 balls to spare, showing a batting brutality that the Tigers hardly faced in their cricket history.

The manner in which Bangladesh lost the first game is believed to cause a mental breakdown. But captain Najmul Hossain Shato argued that they are better team than what they showed in the first match.

“I wouldn’t say we played badly. We are a better team than this,” Shanto said after his side’s seven-wicket defeat to India in the first game.
“We haven’t done well in this format for a long time, but I don’t believe we are such a bad team.”

Shanto insisted on making their batting approach correct, saying that aggression should be displayed in proper way.

“I think the batting unit didn’t do well today. There will be aggression in the way we approach our scoring, but sometimes we have to select the balls correctly. We will think about it, but we can’t rush in changing our approach.”

Bangladesh earlier lost the two-match Test series in dismal fashion and so India remained unconquered for them in the longer version format.

In T20 International too, Bangladesh’s record against India is vulnerable as they now lost 14 out of 15. But the only victory that they secured came in Delhi, which will host the second T20 game in this series.

The memory of Delhi could inspire them to keep the series alive.

However, Shanto said, they need to utilize powerplay properly to put pressure on India. Bangladesh scored only 39 runs in the first powerplay, comparing to India’s 71 in this phase.

“We have to keep the wickets in the first six overs, and score runs in this phase, Shanto said, adding that it would be tougher for the next batters to thrive in if they fail to utilize powerplay properly.

“Otherwise those coming in next, it becomes too challenging for them. We have struggled in the powerplay. Those batting in the power play must take more responsibility.”

Bangladesh (644 caps) have a more experienced T20I squad than India (389 caps) in this series but the young Indian side showed experience mattered little in this format.

Shanto insisted that they need to learn the art of making 180 runs regularly if they want to challenge a super aggressive team like India.

“We play on 140-150 wickets at home. Our batters don’t know how to score 180 runs. I won’t blame just the wickets,” Shanto said.

Squad

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Liton Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav. (BSS)