T20 World Cup 2024: We didn’t show much intent with the bat – Najmul Hossain Shanto after loss against India

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted the batters didn’t show much intent with the bat after they suffered a 50-run loss against India at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua in the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup on Saturday.

India posted a par score of 196 runs on the board after Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten knock of 50 runs off 27 balls. Furthermore, the rest of the Indian batters also chipped in as the team came up with a collective show.

On the other hand, Bangladesh could only manage 146-8 in their 20 overs as they failed to achieve any kind of impetus throughout their innings. The Tigers scored 42-1 in the Powerplay overs and the required run rate kept increasing as they could not find regular boundaries.

Shanto top-scored with 40 but none of the other Bangladesh batters could show much fight. The Tigers kept losing wickets at regular intervals and it led to their downfall. Shanto feels they let themselves down with the bat as they didn’t bat at their best.

Shanto said after the loss, “We were thinking about 160-170 when we put them into bat, but they batted well so credit to them. [on the weather and wind] I don’t think that is an issue, the players are habituated to that. We did not show as much intent as we needed with the bat, when we are chasing 190, we needed to show more intent, especially in the first six. I try to contribute but need to finish the games.”

Speaking on the positives, the left-hander added, “Tanzim Sakib in this tournament has done a great job and happy for Rishad too, we have been looking for a good legspinner for a long time now.”

Bangladesh will next take on Afghanistan in a must-win game at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent on Monday.