Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is confident that his young team is ready to win the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, starting on Sunday. Shanto emphasized that the team has moved past the disappointing 2-0 defeat in the Test series and is now focused on showcasing an aggressive style of cricket in the T20 format.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, ahead of the series opener at the newly inaugurated Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Shanto said, “We are aiming to win this series, to be very honest. We want to play aggressive cricket. In the last World Cup, we had a great opportunity to reach the semi-finals, but we missed out. This is a new team, and I believe all the players will deliver good performances here.”
Bangladesh’s Test series against India was a quick affair, ending in just six sessions, with India dominating both matches. However, Shanto made it clear that their focus is now on the T20 format, which offers a different challenge. “We all know we didn’t perform well in the Tests, but we’re not thinking about that anymore. T20 is a different ball game. It’s not about past performances; it’s about who performs better on the day,” the skipper said.
Both Bangladesh and India will be fielding young squads, with several senior players rested or unavailable. Suryakumar Yadav will lead a fresh Indian team, while Bangladesh’s T20 squad will include only five players who were part of the Test series. This shift offers younger players from both sides a chance to shine.
Shanto believes that this unpredictability in T20 cricket could work in Bangladesh’s favor. “In T20Is, you never know. It’s not about big names or experienced players. The team that plays better in batting, bowling, and fielding on the day will win. We need to ensure that we’re that team,” he said.
The series opener will take place at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, a new international venue. Both teams have limited knowledge of how the pitch will behave, adding another layer of unpredictability to the contest. However, Bangladesh has been working hard during practice sessions to try and gauge the conditions.
“We don’t have much information about the pitch, but we’ve had practice sessions to try and understand how it behaves. Quick adjustment is important, as international teams must be ready for any conditions,” Shanto added.
Despite the Test series loss, Shanto is optimistic that his team can bounce back in the T20 series. He stressed the importance of focusing on the present and believes Bangladesh can compete strongly in this format. “This series is important for us. T20 cricket is all about what happens on the day, and we’re confident we can play well.”
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