Winning the toss and opting to bat, Najmul Hossain Shanto aimed for a big total on a good pitch. However, he was dismissed early due to a poor shot, setting the tone for Bangladesh’s disastrous start. Within an hour, hopes of a competitive total crumbled as the batting order collapsed like a house of cards.
A late fightback from Towhid Hridoy and Zakir Ali provided Bangladesh with a respectable total, but it wasn’t enough. After the loss against India, captain Shanto pointed to the early collapse as the decisive factor.
A Nightmare Start in the Powerplay
Bangladesh, aiming for ICC Champions Trophy glory, stumbled right from the start. Playing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Shanto’s side suffered a six-wicket defeat to India.
The match was effectively decided in the first ten overs. Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen struggled, losing five wickets for just 35 runs inside the powerplay. Despite a 154-run partnership between Hridoy and Zakir, which pushed the total to 228, it wasn’t enough. India secured an easy win, led by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten century.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Shanto reflected on the disastrous start:
“The match slipped away in the first powerplay. Losing five wickets in ten overs made things extremely difficult for the lower order. That’s what cost us the game.”
Despite the modest total, Bangladesh did show some fight, pushing India to 47 overs. Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed sparked some hope by taking four wickets before India reached 150.
However, fielding mistakes proved costly. Zakir dropped KL Rahul’s catch and later missed a run-out chance. Rahul and Gill then built an 87-run unbeaten stand, guiding India to victory.
Shanto’s Regret: 25-30 Runs Short & Poor Fielding
Shanto admitted that Bangladesh fell 25-30 runs short and also pointed to fielding lapses:
“I agree we were short by 25-30 runs. But credit to Hridoy and Zakir—they batted brilliantly. We also made mistakes in the field. We dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities. Had we taken those, the result could’ve been different.”
Bowling Choices & Tactical Differences
Both teams had different bowling strategies. Bangladesh played three pacers and two spinners, while India opted for two pacers and three spinners. Interestingly, Bangladesh’s spinners performed better—Rishad took 2 wickets for 38 runs in 10 overs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz conceded only 37 runs without a wicket.
However, Shanto didn’t feel Bangladesh lacked an extra spinner:
“I don’t think we were short on spinners. Mahmudullah had a minor injury. We didn’t bowl well with the new ball, especially Taskin and Mustafizur. If we had taken 2-3 early wickets, the game could have been different.”
Looking Ahead: Bangladesh Gears Up for New Zealand
Despite the tough start, Shanto praised Hridoy’s century and Zakir’s 68-run knock, hoping they continue this form.
“Hridoy and Anik batted exceptionally well, especially on a pitch where spinners were getting turn. Hopefully, they will carry this form into the next two matches.”
Bangladesh now heads to Pakistan to face New Zealand in Rawalpindi on Monday. Last year, Bangladesh famously whitewashed Pakistan in a Test series on this very ground.
Shanto hopes to draw inspiration from that success:
“We recently played in Rawalpindi against Pakistan, so we are familiar with the conditions. I believe the team will adjust well.”
