Transitioning from the second Test in Kanpur to the first T20I in Gwalior, both the format and the players underwent significant changes. India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, continued their dominance from Kanpur, easily overcoming Bangladesh, who were attempting a more aggressive approach to T20 cricket.
The pitch in Gwalior was somewhat slow, and Bangladesh's batting in the Powerplay revealed their ongoing struggle with shot selection across different formats. Openers Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon fell early, making poor shot choices. This early setback set the tone for the rest of the innings, as Bangladesh struggled to build momentum.
When questioned about Bangladesh's style of play, Shanto defended the team's potential, acknowledging their recent poor performance in T20s but insisting they are capable of better.
Bangladesh's total of 127, after being sent in to bat, highlighted their difficulties, with their typical scores in this format hovering around 120-130. This score was far from competitive against an Indian side that has shown prowess in chasing down targets.
Shanto identified both skill and mentality as areas needing improvement. He suggested that practising on different types of wickets at home could help the team adapt better and aim for higher scores, around 180, which they currently struggle to achieve.
He further elaborated that when playing at home, they usually encounter wickets that yield scores of 140-150, which the batters are accustomed to. However, they struggle to achieve higher scores, indicating a need for different practice conditions and improvements in both mental and skill aspects.
As they prepare for the second T20I, Shanto and his team are under pressure to make a swift recovery to avoid another heavy defeat. The team needs to reassess their strategies, improve their shot selection, and enhance their mental toughness to compete effectively against a formidable Indian side. The upcoming match will be crucial for Bangladesh to prove their mettle and bounce back from this setback.