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Thursday, December 8, 2022

ODI series loss to Bangladesh rankles !!

For an Indian fan, losses like these hurt a lot – but does really anybody care ! – BCCI will hype of bench strength .... .. and much was expected of a new Coach! 

It was damn foolish decision of winning the toss and batting first. Back on that day, the dasher bat Virender Sehwag had excellent figures of 5-0-17-2, yet the match was lost due to toothless bowling attack, accompanied by some sloppy fielding - dropping two sitters and two half-chances. It was a stark contrast to Bangladesh's effort on the field, when they pounced and dived around like panthers on a prowl. Tamim's dismissal, followed by Aftab Ahmed's wicket soon after, reduced Bangladesh to 79 for 3 but Bangladesh unleashed a couple of relative unknowns who arrived on the biggest stage and came into their own. 


It might be tempting to call it one of the biggest upsets, but the manner in which Bangladesh pulled the rug from under India's feet at Port-of-Spain, for their third win in World Cup games, came with a touch of the inevitable. Mashrafe Mortaza inspired a clockwork bowling effort, helped largely by a slew of sloppy strokes, before three teenagers displayed confidence, verve and composure beyond their years to turn a tricky chase into a stroll, winning by five wickets. Sourav Ganguly's half-century lent some sort of respectability but during the run-chase, India were upstaged by a trio that has a combined experience of 35 games and an average age of 18.  In case you had forgotten it was that World Cup game of  2007 at Trinidad with Rahul Dravid as Captain and a highly paid foreign coach Greg Chappell. 

Back in 2012 Asia Cup - Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan delivered an improbable win for Bangladesh that left Sachin Tendulkar's record 100th international century in the shade and threw the Asia Cup wide open. As the focus remained on Tendulkar's achievement for most of the match, Bangladesh did what they had threatened to do in the tournament opener against Pakistan - they showed that they could chase big totals under pressure against Test opposition. Bangladesh had asked India to bat knowing that chasing has been easier on the Mirpur pitch in this tournament than batting first. Though the strategy had not worked against Pakistan, India did not have an Umar Gul or a Saeed Ajmal to stop a side hungrier than they were for success. 

India’s track record against Bangladesh is excellent off the 38 played, lost 7 and won 30 !  .. .. yet yesterday’s loss was more hurting as Indians have lost two in a row and lost the ODI series rather tamely.  

Mehidy Hasan Miraz became Bangladesh's hero for the second game in a row by pulling off another remarkable effort with the bat in another see-saw match, scoring his maiden ODI century off just 83 balls to pull his team out of trouble and post a challenging 271 for 7 that proved to be just beyond India's reach in the end. India lost early wickets and were reduced to 207 for 8 when an injured Rohit Sharma walked out and made a match out of the equation of 65 off 44 balls. He belted five sixes even as he was running out of partners and brought it down to 20 needed off the last over and a six needed off the last ball, but an accurate yorker from Mustafizur Rahman sealed the series for Bangladesh. The 2-0 win ensured Bangladesh's second series win against India after their 2-1 win in 2015. 

.. .. more bad news and more players are injured.  Rohit Sharma, Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Sen have been ruled out of the third ODI against Bangladesh because of their injuries. Rohit suffered a blow to his left thumb while fielding in the slips during the second ODI. He came out to bat at No. 9, with stitches on his hand, but is a doubt for the Test series as well, which begins on December 14 and is part of the World Test Championship. Chahar hurt his hamstring and could bowl only three overs, while Sen sat out of the match with a stiff back. India have been ravaged by injuries to several regulars throughout the year. Deepak Chahar and Washington Sundar, part of the Bangladesh tour, have been among those who've spent extensive periods in rehab at the NCA. 

Well another disappointing performance, awful day for Indian fan – what will Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma do !?!? – sit back and relax !!

 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
8.12.2022 

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