‘They’re desperate, but we are too’
Mahmudullah Riyad and Co will be desperate to continue turning the tide of close defeats against India when Bangladesh take the field today for the second T20I of the three-match series with a cyclone threat looming over the game in Rajkot. Having had so many close encounters against India, Mahmudullah was keen to clinch a series against their Asian rivals on their home soil.
The Bangladesh team trained in the morning under sunny skies at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot yesterday. Following some fielding drills the players headed to the nets but the pace unit once again worked on one of the wickets in the centre with bowling coach Charles Langeveldt, hoping to adjust their lines and lengths.
Bangladesh players looked like a well-gelled unit on the field during the first T20I and carried that momentum in practice. Captain Mahmudullah Riyad exuded positivity during the press conference.
"From the start we have talked about our approach which has to be top; it doesn't matter if we win or lose, our approach and attitude have to be correct," Mahmudullah said.
Despite a batting-friendly wicket on offer and India possessing some of the hardest hitters in the game, Bangladesh players were looking for a positive outcome, bolstered by the seven-wicket victory in Delhi on Sunday.
"Since we won the first match, it will give us extra confidence. We are all desperately waiting for tomorrow's match. Everybody is working hard and giving their best in practice. We are all trying so that we can give our collective effort to get the desired result tomorrow."
After the recent turbulence in the country's cricket -- a players' strike and then Shakib Al Hasan's ban from cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended -- the team could have been excused for being listless. Instead, they now look rejuvenated and up for a fight. It remains to be seen, however, if the win in the first T20I has helped the Tigers overcome the mental block against India in close matches, seen during last-ball losses in the Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup finals in 2018.
"The mental barrier, we might be able to come out of that, even if a little. I think in T20 cricket, this sort of chance comes often and it depends on how we keep calm and execute our skills to try and win the game.
"We can somewhat sense that they are looking to come back strongly. I feel that in T20s, if you can assess the wicket properly and the length and accordingly place your field, you have a chance to do well," Mahmudullah said. "They are really desperate and we are too. We have come to India for the first time to play a [multi-format] bilateral series, so if we can win, it will be a big achievement."
The think tank is likely to stick to the winning eleven, although Mahmudullah said they would adapt to conditions. "When we arrive tomorrow morning or maybe in the afternoon, if we feel change is required, for instance if the wicket is dry, then maybe we might change. But at the moment we will try to stick to the winning combination," the captain added.
HIGHLIGHTS
* India have never lost a three-match bilateral T20I series at home.
* Rohit Sharma is all set to play his 100th T20I match if he takes the field in the second T20I. He will be only the second player after Shoaib Malik to appear in 100 T20Is.
* Mahmudullah Riyad needs two sixes to reach 50 sixes in T20Is and he will be the first Bangladeshi cricketer to achieve the feat. Tamim Iqbal (41), Shakib Al Hasan (33) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31) are following the stand-in Bangladesh T20I skipper in the charts.
* A high-scoring venue, the average run-rate at the ground is 9.48 per over.
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