Bangladesh’s batting woes were on full display during the first T20I match against the West Indies at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Monday. Despite a solid batting wicket, Bangladesh fell short of the target of 165 runs, being dismissed for 149 runs after a shaky start that saw them lose five wickets for just 57 runs within the first ten overs.
As they prepare for the second match in the three-match T20I series, scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time, questions loom over the performance of the top-order batsmen. Captain Liton Das expressed his frustration regarding the team’s early wickets, particularly singling out Shamim Hossain, who managed only a single run from four balls before succumbing to Jason Holder’s bowling.
Liton emphasized the need for batsmen to take on a greater responsibility rather than merely enjoying their time at the crease. “I was very upset regarding Shamim Hossain’s batting. He has to think about it; you can’t come and just enjoy the batting all the time. You have to take responsibility,” said Liton.
While Shamim faced criticism, he was not the sole contributor to Bangladesh’s batting failure. Historical trends indicate that the team has often struggled with early collapses, having lost their first three wickets under 40 runs in seven out of 22 matches in 2025—resulting in losses in five of those scenarios.
Pacer Tanzim Hasan, who managed to score a fighting 33 off 27 balls while batting lower in the order, also called for more accountability from the recognized batsmen. “If they had gotten set and then gotten out, it would have been a different scenario. But most of the batsmen got out before getting set,” he remarked. Tanzim added that the middle-order should have assumed more responsibility to steer the innings in a more stable direction.
The West Indies, on the other hand, executed their game plan efficiently. They adopted a cautious batting strategy early on in the match but later unleashed their aggression through standout performances from Rovman Powell and Shai Hope, who played crucial roles in building a competitive score. The West Indies bowlers capitalized on early breakthroughs, maintaining pressure on the hosts with excellent catches and disciplined bowling throughout the game.
As Bangladesh looks to bounce back in the upcoming match, they will need to address their batting inconsistencies to compete effectively against a formidable West Indies side. A renewed focus on responsibility among their top-order batsmen could turn the tide in favor of the home team in the next encounter.