In a tense Test match that has quickly captured international headlines, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has expressed his disappointment over his team’s performance during the shortened Kanpur Test. The fixture, which lasted merely 173.2 overs, went into the records as the fourth-shortest Test in history, concluding with a decisive seven-wicket victory for India. Bangladesh’s inability to withstand India’s innovative approach and a critical batting collapse on the final day underscored their struggles throughout the match.
Bangladesh entered the final day with hopes pinned on an extended batting session to avoid defeat. However, these ambitions were dashed as they collapsed within merely one session on Tuesday, October 1. During a stunning 21-minute period, Bangladesh saw the wickets of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, alongside key players Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das, fall one after another.
Reflecting on the defeat, Hathurusingha candidly acknowledged the impact of India’s unanticipated tactics. “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 quick enough (to India’s approach),” he admitted.
Bangladesh’s batting woes were a source of concern throughout the series. Upon reviewing performances from previous series, Hathurusingha noted some players had shown glimpses of potential. However, the coach conceded that Bangladesh had been unable to match their capabilities consistently across recent encounters. “The skill level on display in this series was very high. We are taking a lot of learnings from this. This is the best team. Playing India in India is the toughest assignment. We know how much we need to improve,” he added emphatically.
Though Bangladesh arrived in India fresh from a historic series win in Pakistan, Hathurusingha was under no illusion about the difficulty of playing against India on their home soil. “We came here after beating Pakistan but we knew that the challenges will 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. We knew what we did well to win in Pakistan and we know what we couldn’t do here to compete with these guys,” he opined.
Despite noting a palpable difference in skill levels between the two teams, Hathurusingha emphasized the importance of focusing on self-improvement. “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,” said Hathurusingha with a hint of resolve.
When questioned about the criticized reverse sweep played by Shakib Al Hasan against Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja that led to his dismissal, Hathurusingha defended his captain’s decision, explaining the strategic considerations behind the shot choice. “It is an 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,” Hathurusingha asserted.
The mood in the Bangladesh dressing room was affected by discontent regarding decision-making during the match. Hathurusingha expressed that, “I am sure they are disappointed at some of the dismissals and the decision-making. What stands out for me is that we lost a wicket when there’s been a bowling change. We didn’t give ourselves enough time to get used to the new bowler.”
As the team looks ahead, Hathurusingha could not confirm the future of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in Test cricket, especially concerning the upcoming series against South Africa. “I haven’t heard anything to say that this is the last time (that Shakib is playing). As far as I know, he is playing the South Africa series,” highlighted Hathurusingha, while acknowledging the irreplaceable value of a player of Shakib’s stature and the looming necessity for succession planning as careers advance.
As Bangladesh regroups to address their recent shortcomings, Hathurusingha’s reflective yet hopeful tone suggests a deep commitment to not only understanding their deficiencies but leveraging them as cornerstones for growth and future successes on the international cricket stage.