Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed disappointment in his team’s batting performance after a 50-run defeat against India in their second Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The loss at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, leaves Bangladesh on the brink of elimination, with two consecutive losses in Group 1.
India Post Challenging Total
India set a formidable target of 197, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s explosive 27-ball fifty, which helped them reach 196 for 5. Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters, with Pandya leading the charge. Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that his team failed to execute their bowling plans effectively, allowing India to post an above-par score. “We were thinking about 160-170 when we put them into bat, but they batted well so credit to them,” Shanto said after the match.
Bangladesh’s chase never gained momentum, and they eventually managed only 146 for 8 in their 20 overs. Hardik Pandya’s impact extended to the bowling department as he dismissed Litton Das early, breaking the opening stand. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav then took three crucial wickets, effectively derailing Bangladesh’s chase. Tanzid Hasan (29) and Towhid Hridoy (4) fell lbw to Yadav, who also dismissed Shakib Al Hasan, finishing with figures of 3 for 19.
Shanto tried to revive the chase with a fighting 40, but once he was removed by Jasprit Bumrah, India’s victory was all but secured. “We did not show as much intent as we needed with the bat. When we are chasing 190, we needed to show more intent, especially in the first six,” Shanto commented on the team’s batting approach.
Conservative Approach and Lack of Aggression
Bangladesh’s conservative batting approach raised eyebrows as they were 66-1 in the 10th over, going at only about six and a half runs per over. The lack of aggressive intent and the high number of dot balls played a significant role in their downfall. “We played too many dot balls and the number of attacking shots was not enough. We needed to be more aggressive to chase down such a big total,” Shanto added.
Despite the defeat, Shanto praised the performances of Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rishad Hossain in the tournament. “Tanzim Sakib in this tournament has done a great job, and happy for Rishad too. We have been looking for a good legspinner for a long time now,” Shanto remarked, highlighting the positives from the ongoing T20 World Cup.
With two losses in the Super Eight stage, Bangladesh faces a daunting task to stay in contention for the semi-finals. The team will need to regroup and show more intent in their upcoming matches to keep their hopes alive in the T20 World Cup 2024. The next matches will be crucial for Bangladesh as they aim to bounce back from their disappointing start and make a mark in the tournament.
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