Bangladesh won back to back games on slow-low pitches in Dhaka but looked short of ideas on a true batting surface in Chattogram
Despite losing the third and final ODI against India in Chattogram, Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Litton Das feels that they need to play on similar wickets more often to develop into a world-class side.
Bangladesh looked short of ideas on a batting-friendly wicket at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, after clinching the series with successive wins on the low and slow wickets at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
India handed them a massive 227-run defeat, riding on the back of Ishan Kishan’s double ton (210) and Virat Kohli’s 71st international hundred (113) as they posted a massive 409-8 in their 50 overs before bundling out the hosts for 182 runs.
“There were two matches in Mirpur but the batting was not that easy there. Today’s wicket was batting friendly but we did not bat well here,” said Litton after the game. “There was pressure of run rate and that is the reason we had to accelerate a lot.
“Certainly playing in good conditions, you will be failing a lot against big teams but there are a lot of things to take from it. You can understand how you will be developing in certain areas (as a batting unit by playing on good batting wickets).
“We have to work in this area (bowling on good wicket). We are not a world-class side yet and working regularly on these areas will help us develop.”
Litton said that they were not playing to earn a respectable loss but instead wanted to respond with an aggressive approach. “Today we were chasing a huge total and if you had played dot balls (at the start), we could have scored 300 to 320 runs. All we wanted was that whoever goes in will have the intent to win the game,” said Litton.
“If we are in a similar situation (again), we will be playing the same attacking brand of cricket. After 400 runs were scored, we only said that we need to play attacking cricket. We also wanted to keep wickets in hand along with playing attacking cricket. But when you are attacking you will lose wickets at some point.
“If we had made 120/1 in 20 overs then it would have been a different case but we could not do that. If later we are chasing 360-370 runs we will bat in the same manner but will make sure that we have wickets in hand,” he added.
Litton said that he is willing to lead the side in future if given a chance. “I am very happy (to win the series). Everyone helped me (as I was leading the side for the first time) and I never felt any kind of pressure.
“Certainly (will lead) if BCB give me the responsibility and I am happy to lead the side and thankful to BCB for giving me the chance (to lead).”
On Ishan Kishan’s batting, Litton said, “His batting was unbelievable. It was his day and he brought the momentum to the Indian side. The way Virat and Ishan batted, we tried our best but the difference was in the way Ishan played well and he deserves it (double hundred).”
