Aggressive cricket pays dividend
Dhoni blames batters
Sports Reporter
Even as Pakistan were whitewashed, Bangladesh never expected to pull off a series victory over India because of the latters much-vaunted batting line-up and recent form. Unlike Pakistan, the Indian side was experienced and they made it to the World Cup semi-final where their bowlers stunned their opponents by bowling them out in the six matches at a stretch.
India came here with the same line-up, sans Mohammed Shami who picked up an injury before the tour. However, they were no match for a rejuvenated Bangladesh who humiliated the bigger name in world cricket in the first two matches and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
This is also the first time that Bangladesh scripted a series victory over their mighty opponents.
Although Bangladesh had mentioned on the series-eve that they would put up a valiant show to repeat their performance against Pakistan, they would have been content with just a victory in the series. The series win with yet another emphatic performance therefore was an unexpected treat for the entire country and the cricket team.
Certainly, it was not expected. We always believed that we could win a match. But a series win with a game in hand was something successful World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand. The winning streak began after Bangladesh went through a lean patch in 2014, when they lost all their matches other than just two Twenty20 matches against two ICC associates.
The team, however, fought back when Mashrafe took charge as captain in the home series against Zimbabwe at the fag end of December last year.
We always had the confidence to do well. Our boys managed to stick to their guns to make the unthinkable happen. I think our aggressive cricket made the difference. Were now focusing on individual intent more than anything else. Even though Tamim Iqbal today scored only 13 runs, were happy because he managed to show the intent, said an elated Mashrafe after the match.
The way Indian batsmen succumbed to the cutters of the left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahim clearly indicated their lack of homework to deal with off-cutters. Mustafizur followed up his dream debut (five for 50) with six for 43 to rip through the Indian batting line-up yet again and gave his side an easy chasing target of 200.
Indian captain MS Dhoni came down heavily on his batsmen for the defeat. Its pretty simple to see what went wrong. We needed to put runs on the board. We didnt get to a good start and whenever there was a partnership, we lost two wickets together. Youve to take risks in such a game, but if you keep losing two wickets in a row, it becomes difficult to do so, he said. The consequence of the series defeat to Bangladesh was so intense that Dhoni, the most successful Indian captain, was asked in the post-match press conference if he would retire from the ODI captaincy.
Im really enjoying my cricket. I know this question would come. I know the media really loves me. These are the questions that will keep coming, he said tersely while replying to the query.
Yes, if you remove me and the Indian team starts doing really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad things that is happening to Indian cricket, I would definitely love to step down and play only as a player. Ultimately you want India to win. It doesnt matter who is the captain. I was never really in line to become a captain.
