Bangladesh’s recent struggles in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format have been a matter of concern, and the team’s performance during the first game of the three-match T20I series against India has brought these issues to the forefront once again. On Sunday, October 6, Bangladesh’s skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, candidly addressed the challenges the team has been facing, particularly during the powerplay overs, which have significantly affected their ability to perform well in this format.
In the opening T20I match at Gwalior, India secured a dominant victory over Bangladesh, winning by seven wickets with a remarkably comfortable 49 balls to spare. Bangladesh’s batting woes persisted as they struggled to capitalize on the powerplay, scoring only 39 runs in the first six overs. The innings culminated in a modest total of 127 runs. In stark contrast, India demonstrated an aggressive approach in their batting, amassing 71 runs during their powerplay and efficiently reaching the target in just 11.5 overs.
Bangladesh’s powerplay performances have been a recurring problem, reflecting broader issues with their batting lineup and opening partnerships. Over the past eight innings, Bangladesh’s opening partnerships have only managed to produce 69 runs in total, with the highest contribution being 35 runs. Najmul Hossain Shanto highlighted the critical importance of making a strong start in the powerplay to set the tone for the remainder of the innings. After the match, he expressed to reporters at the Madhav Rao Scindia Cricket Stadium, “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.”
The underwhelming performance during the powerplay has placed undue pressure on the middle order to compensate for the lack of a solid foundation. Najmul emphasized the necessity for batsmen to retain wickets and score aggressively in the early overs, as failing to do so creates challenges for those batting later in the innings. “Those batting in the powerplay must take more responsibility,” Najmul asserted.
Addressing the disparity between Bangladesh and India, Najmul pointed out that the primary difference lies in the skill set and mental approach of the two teams.
. Despite this, he firmly believes that Bangladesh is a capable side and not as poor as they appeared in the opening match against India. “I wouldn’t say we played badly. We are a better team than this,” Najmul stated, adding, “We haven’t done well in this format for a long time, but I don’t believe we are such a bad team.”
While Najmul refrained from blaming individual players, he openly acknowledged the collective failure of the batting unit in the match against India. He stressed the need for a balanced approach, where aggression is complemented by smart shot selection. “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,” Najmul explained.
One of the significant challenges Najmul identified is the need for improvement in both skills and mentality. The team has been following a similar batting pattern for the past decade, and although there have been successful moments, he believes that adapting to different conditions and enhancing skills are vital for long-term success. “We have been batting in this way for the last ten years. Sometimes we do well. We have to make some changes, perhaps where we practice back home,” Najmul suggested.
The skipper also pointed out that Bangladesh batsmen often play on 140-150 run wickets domestically, which does not adequately prepare them for scoring 180 runs in international matches—an area they must address. Najmul concluded by acknowledging that while pitch conditions play a role, the onus is on improving the team’s skill set and mental resilience to overcome the challenges in T20I cricket.
As Bangladesh seeks to bounce back in the remaining matches of the series against India, the focus will undoubtedly be on refining their approach during the powerplay and building a more robust batting structure that can withstand the pressures of high-stakes international cricket.