Bangladesh coach laments poor batting, lauds India’s aggressive approach

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha was disappointed by his team’s batting performance in the second Test against India which ended in only 173.2 overs. His team lost the game, getting bowled twice even though only seven sessions of play were possible across five days due to inclement weather in Kanpur

"Batting was disappointing in this series,” Hathurusingha said in the post-match press conference on October 1 (Tuesday). 

“We have not been performing to our potential in the last few series. 

One reason for the batting was the quality of the opposition. The skill level on display in this series was very high,” he added, lauding the Indian bowling line-up, which bowled out the Tigers twice in just 121.2 overs. 

However, more than India’s bowling, it was the ultra-aggressive approach by Rohit Sharma and his men with the bat that took Bangladesh by surprise. Calling the approach as something never seen before, the Sri Lankan admitted that the defeat hurt a lot. 

"All credit to Rohit and the Indian team for coming up with that approach, and making a match of it. We didn't react quick enough [to India's approach],” he said.

Asked about whether Bangladesh’s greatest all-format all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had played his last Test already, Hathurusingha confirmed that according to his knowledge, the left-handed star was playing the South Africa series.

"I haven't heard anything to say that this is the last time (that Shakib is playing). As far as I know, he is playing in the South Africa series. We are all surprised that he said that (South Africa) is his last series. You are not getting a like-for-like replacement for someone like Shakib,” he said. 

Bangladesh’s next assignment after the three-match T20I series against India is the two-match Test series against South Africa at home, starting October 21. 

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