In a sobering reflection of their recent performance, Bangladesh cricketer Towhid Hridoy has admitted that their team displayed significant deficiencies during the recently concluded three-match T20I series against India. Despite fielding an experienced side in comparison to the young Indian squad, Bangladesh was comprehensively overshadowed in all cricketing aspects, emphasizing the gulf in skill levels between the two teams.
Addressing reporters after suffering three successive defeats, Hridoy candidly assessed his team’s shortcomings. “We lacked in all departments,” Hridoy lamented. “On one day, our batting stood out but our bowling faltered, and on another, when our bowling showed promise, our batting fell short.”
One of the key issues highlighted by Hridoy was Bangladesh’s unfamiliarity with the kind of pitches they encountered during the series. “We don’t usually play on wickets like these,” he explained, although he was quick to clarify that he wasn’t making excuses. “The more we play on such wickets, the better we’ll get,” he asserted, underlining the need for the team to gain more experience on diverse playing surfaces to improve their overall game.
Hridoy sees the series as a learning opportunity, noting, “Overall, we have a lot of room for improvement. We have to learn from this series. Hopefully, we will be able to take valuable lessons from it.” He specifically pointed out the failure of Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen, a recurring issue throughout the series, as a critical area needing attention. The lack of contributions from the top order meant that Bangladesh struggled to post competitive totals, a factor that cost them dearly in every game.
The string of defeats culminated in a devastating 133-run loss in the third T20I, marking Bangladesh’s largest defeat by runs in their cricketing history, surpassing a 104-run defeat to South Africa in 2022. The series sweep saw Bangladesh going down 3-0 against India, with the final match played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 12. Bangladesh, grappling to chase a daunting target of 298, could only manage a score of 164 for 7, falling well short in their run chase.
Reflecting on the matches, Hridoy highlighted the importance of the top-order performance stating, “In every team, runs come from the top order. When that happens, it naturally translates into bigger scores.
. If the top four score heavily, reaching a total of 180 becomes achievable,” he stated. Despite the heavy defeats, Hridoy was optimistic about the team’s potential, rejecting the notion that their performance reflected their true capabilities. “I wouldn’t say we’re too far behind. We’re not this bad as a side,” he insisted, emphasizing the need for better adaptation to flat wickets.
Emphasizing adaptability, Hridoy pointed out the challenge posed by new venues like Hyderabad, where reading the wicket became a nuanced task. “Most of our players can’t read the wicket properly. We mostly play in Mirpur and Chattogram, where we have a better sense of the playing conditions. However, when playing elsewhere, the wickets can vary each day,” he explained. The solution, he suggested, lies in constant exposure and improvement on such varying pitches.
Hridoy believes Bangladesh can draw inspiration from India, noting, “India can be an example for us—how to play on flat wickets with good planning.” He accentuated the need for a comprehensive improvement in all departments of the game, urging his team to focus not only on adapting to different pitches but also on honing their skills further. “It’s not just about the wickets; we also need to improve our skills. I wouldn’t say our standard is too low. We’ve played against big teams,” he acknowledged, while respecting India’s strength as a formidable team especially on their home ground.
In conclusion, this series against India has served as a stark reminder to Bangladesh of the evolving challenges in international cricket. As they introspect on their performance, Hridoy’s insights offer a roadmap of the areas needing attention, particularly the imperative of developing the ability to compete on varied pitches. With aspirations to bridge the skill gap, Bangladesh is hopeful that lessons from this series can underpin a stronger comeback in future encounters.