In the wake of a challenging defeat in the truncated Kanpur Test, Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, expressed his disappointment while acknowledging India’s innovative and effective approach. The match, which concluded with Bangladesh suffering a seven-wicket defeat, was notably brief, lasting a mere 173.2 overs and earning the distinction of being the fourth-shortest match in Test history. The result came as a sobering reality check for Bangladesh, who had harbored hopes of batting through the final day to salvage the game.
On Tuesday, October 1, the Bangladesh team found their resistance crumbling as they succumbed to a swift batting collapse within a single session. A crucial 21-minute period saw the dismissals of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das, underscoring the team’s struggle to adapt to the pressures implemented by their hosts. Coach Hathurusingha was transparent in his assessment, attributing significant credit to the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, for their strategic ingenuity. He candidly admitted, “The defeat is really hurting us in terms of our performance. India’s approach was really not seen before. All credit to Rohit and the Indian team for coming up with that approach, and making a match of it. We actually didn’t react quickly enough.”
Reflecting on the series, Hathurusingha remarked on the disappointing batting performances, highlighting how some players who had previously excelled were unable to replicate their form against the strong opposition presented by India. He noted the high skill level on display from the Indian side, which offered Bangladesh valuable lessons for improvement. “Batting was disappointing in this series. Some players did well in the last series. We have not been performing to our potential in the last few series. One reason for the batting was the quality of the opposition. The skill level in this series was very high. We are taking a lot of learnings from this,” he explained, acknowledging the formidable challenge of playing against India in their home conditions, which is considered one of the toughest assignments in international cricket.
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Despite arriving in India with the momentum of a historic series win in Pakistan, Hathurusingha acknowledged the considerable challenge his team faced on Indian soil. He emphasized the importance of managing expectations and emotions, ensuring that the team did not become overly discouraged by the loss. “We came here after beating Pakistan but we knew that the challenges would be steep in India. It won’t be a good thing if I attach our feeling into our performance. We didn’t get too high on ourselves for winning in Pakistan, so we shouldn’t go down too much after this result,” he stated, adding that the team understands the areas where they fell short in meeting the stiff competition from India.
Analyzing the team’s overall performance, Hathurusingha conceded that Bangladesh was “completely outplayed” and recognized the need to bridge the skill difference highlighted in the series. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a supportive environment for players, rather than focusing solely on individual decisions made during the matches. “I think we were completely outplayed in this series. I saw the difference in skill levels, so we need to improve. Having said that, we didn’t play to our best potential. We are disappointed with it. There’s no point putting pressure on every individual player and their every decision in the middle, if we are not getting the right support,” he said.
Defending some of the strategic choices made during the match, Hathurusingha pointed to the decision to play the reverse sweep, advocated by the captain against bowler Ravindra Jadeja, as a calculated risk on a spinning wicket. “It is individual and team plan as well. We are playing on a spinning wicket. If the defense is getting challenged, it is a strategy to play the reverse sweep if you have practiced hard on the shot,” he stated, attempting to justify the tactic.
Overall, Bangladesh’s setback in Kanpur serves as a critical juncture for the team, delivering essential lessons and underscoring the need for growth and adaptability on the international stage. With the challenges ahead, including a potential series against South Africa, Hathurusingha remains focused on continuous improvement and addressing key areas of concern within the team.