DHAKA, Oct 7, 2024 (BSS-Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto blamed their lacklustre batting as the main reason for their shameful defeat in the three-match T20 International series opening game against India in Gwalior yesterday.

Paying the price for their wayward batting in an otherwise a good batting track, Bangladesh were skittled out for just 127 in 19.5 overs, a total that India gunned down with 49 balls to spare. 

"I think the batting unit didn't do well today," Shanto said in the post-match press conference yesterday. "There should be aggression in the way we approach our scoring, but sometimes we have to select the balls correctly. We will think about it, but we can't rush in changing our approach."

Most of the players played loose shots to throw their wicket but Shanto didn't name any individual.

As a captain Shanto himself was not able to play the aggressive way he should. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who top-scored the side with 35 not out, played 32 balls and couldn't rotate the scoreboard with high pace during the last powerplay.

The Indian bowlers were accurate but Miraz, who is considered to fill the shoes of Shakib Al Hasan, even couldn't score runs in bad deliveries and failed to come up with any innovative way to tick the scoreboard with singles.

Shanto insisted that they are not that bad team what the outcome of the match suggested.

"I wouldn't say we played badly. We are a better team than this. We haven't done well in this format for a long time, but I don't believe we are such a bad team," the captain said, adding that the powerplay batting is another source of concern what they should fix ahead of the second game in Delhi on Wednesday. 

Bangladesh got only 39 runs in the first six overs after being asked to bat while India plundered 71 runs in this phase.

"We are definitely worried by our powerplay show. We have struggled in the powerplay. Those batting in the power play must take more responsibility," he remarked. 

Shanto emphasized on the approach, saying that "The approach we talked about (before the game), it will be successful if we make a good start with the bat."

He admitted the gulf of difference between the two sides in terms of skill.

"No doubt, they (India are highly skilled. We have the ability, but we have room for improvement in our skills."

Having said that Shanto further stressed on to learn the arts of making 180 runs regularly in T20 format. 

"We play on 140-150 wickets at home. Our batters don't know how to score 180 runs. I won't blame just the wickets, but we have to consider skills and mentality," he said.