'We need to believe we can compete with everyone' – Shanto after the whitewash
Even after such a nightmare series, Shanto isn’t losing hope. The Bangladesh captain stressed that the team needs to believe they can compete with any opponent. Additionally, he called for changes to the home wickets in order to perform better in the future.
The current tour of India will remain a nightmare for Bangladesh.
The team that had just won a Test series 2-0 in Pakistan found themselves trapped in a cycle of failure throughout their time in India. Struggling with their batting, Bangladesh was whitewashed in the two-match Test series. Their fortunes did not improve in the T20s either. After heavy defeats in the first two games, the visitors faced an even more humiliating loss in the final match today.
Batting first, India posted 297 runs, their highest-ever total in this format. It also became the second-highest team total in T20 history. Chasing such a massive target, Bangladesh was bowled out for just 164 runs, suffering a crushing defeat by 133 runs. This marked Bangladesh's largest-ever defeat in terms of runs in T20 cricket. Like in the Tests, they were whitewashed in the T20 series as well.
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Despite this dismal series, Najmul Hossain Shanto is not losing hope. The Bangladesh captain emphasized the importance of keeping the belief alive that they can compete with any team. He also expressed the need for changes to the home wickets to achieve better results in the future.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony after the 3-0 T20 series loss, a disappointed Shanto said, "We didn't play our best cricket. I think we couldn't execute our plans. As a batting unit, we probably didn't implement our plans in any of the matches. In bowling, we did well in certain overs in a few games. But today, nobody performed well."
Looking ahead, the Bangladesh captain highlighted the need to believe in themselves and make several changes. In Shanto's words, "I think it's important to believe in ourselves, that we can compete with any team. This is crucial. We need to make a lot of changes, especially to the wickets at home. Players need to take care of themselves and take responsibility."
There wasn't much to be positive about in Bangladesh's performance throughout the two-match Test series and the three-match T20 series. Yet, Shanto managed to find some silver linings, saying, "Today, Hridoy bowled really well. The pacers are trying to implement their plans, which is encouraging. As a top-order batsman, I want to keep improving."
