Bangladesh faced India in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series on Sunday (October 6) but could only manage to score 127 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in 19.5 overs. All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz top-scored for the visitors by remaining unbeaten on 35 runs, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hammered 27 runs from 25 balls. The target of 128 runs was chased down by the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team in just 11.5 overs for the loss of three wickets.
After Bangladesh suffered a humiliating defeat in the first T20I against India in Gwalior, Bangladesh captain Shanto made a shocking claim by saying that Bangladeshi batters don’t know how to score 180 runs in T20Is, and this is hurting the team.
Speaking to reporters after Bangladesh’s 7-wicket defeat in the first T20I played at New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior, Shanto said, “We have the ability, but we have room for improvement in our skills. We have been batting in this way for the last 10 years. Sometimes we do well. We have to make some changes, perhaps where we practice back home. 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, but we have to consider skills and mentality.”
The 26-year-old left-handed batter said not being able to score enough runs in the powerplay overs is cause for concern, and he expects his players to take responsibility and score big runs in the first six overs.
“Powerplay is definitely a worry. The approach we talked about (before the game) will be successful if we make a good start with the bat. We have to keep the wickets in the first six overs and score runs in those. Otherwise, for 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.”
According to Shanto, Bangladesh is a better team than how it played against India in the first T20I and feels his team failed as a batting unit in the series opener.
“I wouldn’t say we played badly. We are a better team than this. We haven’t done well in this format for a long time, but I don’t believe we are such a bad team. I don’t want to talk about any individual player. 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,” he added.
The second T20I between India and Bangladesh is scheduled to take place at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday (October 9).
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