Bangladesh Taking on India Again: Change Or The Same Poor Display?

Being a Bangladesh cricket fan is not easy! A fan of the Bangladesh cricket team has to go through many ups and downs, cheers and frustrations, sadness and promise, and such an emotional roller coaster. Just a few days back, they whitewashed Pakistan at their home and then got whitewashed in a humiliating way in India. The performance in the 1^st T20 was disappointing as well. 

However, the second T20 is all set to be taken place within a few hours and Bangladesh, as always, looks forward to improving their performance to try and level the T20I series. 

What Message Does the First T20 Match of the Series Give? 

While Liton Das is fixed as a opener, the confusion was about his partner Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who was unsuccessful there. However, it was an excellent opportunity for Parvez Emon to play a good knock and settle into the squad. But except for a six, his score of 8 in 9 balls does not contribute to the team. 

Liton Das started the innings with a classic shot and four runs; they got out on the very next. Except for Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedy Hasan Miraz, no other player could show any intent in their innings and was likely to surrender against Arshdeep, Mayank, and Varun. 

On the other hand, Indian batters seemed to be enjoying the game to the fullest. Their batting style didn’t reflect their approach of chasing down a low total of 132. While all the batters were aggressive, captain Surya Kumar Yadav’s 29 of just 14 balls with three sixes snatched the audience’s attention. Besides, Hardik’s no-look shot also proved how much they can read the Bangladeshi bowlers. 

The match clearly showed how the Bangladeshi players are behind and how much improvement is needed to bounce back from this position. Since it’s a shorter version of the game, Bangladesh can still hope to perform better in the next match if they can avoid the mistakes they made in the first match. 

Key Players to Watch in the 2^nd T20

A new match means new hope, as all the players can start from zero. For Bangladesh, chances are still there if some key players can flourish. Who are they? Let’s explore! 

Liton Das

Yes, Liton Das is not consistent. But he can turn the momentum in his day and grab all the attention. He has many incredible performances to motivate him. If he can perform, that will be enough to bring the team a win. 

Towhid Hridoy

Though he couldn’t perform in the first match, he has already shown his caliber in the last T20 World Cup. Besides, he is consistent, too. If he can perform as he does, he can also play a vital role in the team. 

Rishad Hossain

He is the only leg spinner in Bangladesh and performed outstandingly. He can pick quick wickets with some mystery deliveries, which can change the game scenario within an over! What about his nasty hitting ability? 

For India, it’s hard to pick two or three names because most of their players can grab the light in any match. However, let’s give it a try: 

Surya Kumar

He is the skipper, proving the decision right in every possible way. He is not someone who stays on the pitch and slowly builds the momentum. Instead, he starts attacking from the very first ball, and as long as he stays, the scoreboard moves faster. 

Hardik Pandya

He has proven his potential so many times with bat and ball. Besides, he is also one of the most experienced players in the squad, which adds value when he is on the crease. 

Mayank Yadav

His pace is a threat to any batter. No matter how aggressive the opponent is, the batter must respect the pace and swing of Mayank, which has resulted in a low economy of this bowler. 

What Should Be the Strategy for Bangladesh

It has been observed that Bangladesh’s batting often suffers from top-order failure, and the middle-order batters cannot perform since they lag while struggling to save the collapse. However, Bangladeshi bowlers perform decently most of the time. 

Therefore, Bangladeshi batters, especially top-order ones, have to take responsibility. If they can secure a score of at least 70 in ten overs with a loss of not more than three wickets, they will likely end up with a fighting total. However, they need to respect the bowlers and start attacking after reading the bowler correctly. 

Though India has been hugely successful recently, it is also observed that they often collapse as a team and give the opponent the chance to outsmart them. Bangladesh needs to grab every little chance, like a tough catch, a quick runout, a clever review, and so on. While individual performances matter a lot, a team performance can enhance the possibilities to the highest degree. 

Will India bring any change? 

India is currently the T20 World Champion; therefore, they are expected to perform much better. Though only three players from the World Cup squad are in the current team, they have a robust pipeline with some impressive performers. 

They are already successful with their aggressive style, and therefore, it is unlikely that they will bring about any change in the style. Any change in the squad also does not seem to be possible. 

Final Thoughts

Current T20 World Champion India does not have Rohit, Kohli, Rabindra Jadeja, Jasprit, and many others in the squad. But the young team is no less potent than their main one. India is in search of their best eleven through these tournaments. Bangladesh has the same purpose and is working to bring the best out of its options. Unfortunately, there are not many options for them. 

In the changed political scenario, Bangladesh cricket has also gone through some changes for which they were not prepared at all. However, the players seemed to adapt to this, and no impact on team selection has also been observed. Let’s see how they can manage things and if they can level the series with the 2^nd T20.