Five fatal errors led to Bangladesh’s 3rd T20I loss
There were moments where the Tigers looked in control and in a position to win the game in a back-and-forth contest.
Bangladesh ended up losing the three-match Twenty20 International series against hosts India 2-1, after losing the third match by 30 runs.
But there were moments where the Tigers looked in control and in a position to win the game in a back-and-forth contest.
Here are five fatal errors made by the visitors that led to the defeat:
Lacking positive intent: In a must-win match, Captain Mahmudullah Riyad won an all-important toss, but went with the defensive option of bowling first.
Record shows that the team batting first in Nagpur wins the bulk of the matches, but despite that, the captain decided to bowl first.
Perhaps fearing the strength of India's chasing credentials, he went with the decision, but posting a big total after batting first in a decider would have certainly put pressure on the hosts.
It would have shown fearlessness and positive intent but that was missing in the game from the get-go.
Persisting with Mustafiz: Mustafizur Rahman has been enduring a tough time on the field.
With Nagpur generally being a haven for spinners, bringing on off-spinner Taijul Islam might not have been a bad decision.
Another off-spinner, Arafat Sunny could also have been used in the game, but that was not to be.
Mustafiz struggled in his four overs, failing to take a single wicket and got hit for over ten runs per over.
The left-arm fast-bowler that made a name for himself in 2015 with stunning performances against India failed to replicate that here.
With Shakib Al Hasan missing, the onus was on 'The Fizz' to deliver the goods, but he failed miserably in the series, failing to take a single wicket.
Aminul's catch drop of Iyer: Perhaps this was the biggest turning point in the match as leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob dropped a dolly at point when Sreyash Iyer was on nought.
Iyer went on to make Bangladesh pay for it by scoring 62 off 33 balls in an innings that shifted the momentum towards the hosts big time.
He hit five sixes in the innings and was especially severe against off-spinner Afif Hossain as he carted his first three balls for consecutive sixes in the 16th over.
Iyer was aggressive against the Aminul when he came in to bowl - and the leg-spinner, who was one of the bright spots for the Tigers in the first two games ended the night wicket-less - and the leggie ended up dropping another catch later on.
One has to wonder, why Aminul was fielding at point in the first place when the likes of Afif Hossain, Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar – three of the best fielders in the team – were present.
Mushfiqur batting too low: In another negative and defensive move, senior batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was not the number four batsman.
Instead, it was Mohammad Mithun, brought into the side in place of Mosaddek Hossain, who batted at number four.
While Mithun did a decent job, scoring 27 off 29 balls in a 98-run partnership with Mohammad Naim Sheikh, it was perhaps a better option to have Mushfiqur batting with young Naim.
That way, the right-hander would have had time to settle in the crease and then play his shots, and it would have taken some pressure off of Naim, who was the only one that took the attack to the Indian bowlers with aplomb.
Instead, Mushfiq came in at number five and was dismissed by Shivam Dube for a golden duck and that move to bat lower, backfired.
Losing wickets in clusters: It's simply not justifiable to lose wickets in consecutive deliveries four times, that too when there are senior and top-order batsmen are involved.
Soumya Sarkar chased after a wide delivery by Deepak Chahar to be dismissed for a golden duck.
Mushfiq tried to late cut his very first delivery but only managed to chop the ball on to the stumps for his golden duck.
And finally, Afif was playing a nothing shot to a back-of-a-length delivery by Dube only to be caught by the bowler.
All three dismissals came in at crucial junctures, especially the dismissal of Mushfiq, when Bangladesh had seven wickets in hand and needed 65 runs from 42 balls at a very manageable 9.28 runs per over.
In the end, it has to be said that more than India performing well, it was Bangladesh that played more poorly to throw away a golden opportunity at winning their first series against India in their home soil.