India vs Bangaldesh: Five Reasons for MS Dhoni & Co.'s Historic Series Loss
India's full strength squad lost the series in Mirpur on Sunday. While it may be a rude shock for many, the fact is that Bangladesh cannot be counted out any longer.
Fatigue Leading to Failure
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and in the Indian cricket team's case, a very tired lot. The Men in Blue have been on the go since October-November last year. The 4-Test and ODI tri-series in Australia, was followed by the World Cup, where India made it to the semi-final. Less than two weeks after the World Cup came IPL 8. "Almost the same players are playing in all the tournaments. Fatigue could be a reason, I'm not saying it is the reason, but it could well be," Indian ODI captain MS Dhoni said after the loss to Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI in Mirpur on Sunday. (Match Report | Highlights | As it Happened)
Dhoni no More Captain Cool?
However tough the situation is, MS Dhoni is known not to press the panic button. But in the last two matches, Captain Cool has evidently been in a bit of a spot. In the first game, in an uncharacteristic show of aggression, Dhoni pushed debutant Mustafizur Rahman with his elbow while taking a run. Rahman had to be taken off the field, while Dhoni ended up with a 75% fine. The 79 run loss in the first One Dayer clearly left Dhoni a bit rattled, which showed in wholesale changes made to the playing eleven for the second match. Out went Ajinkya Rahane, Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav. In came Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel and Dhawal Kulkarni. Between the three of them, they chipped in with just 2 runs with the bat, and gave away 90 runs from 14 overs. (MS Dhoni offers to quit ODI captaincy after series loss in Bangladesh)
Indian Batting's Repeated Failure?
India's batting not clicking in the last few tournaments is a big reason for them losing matches. "I think the batting has really let India down. The bowling has always been a bit of a worry, and on these pitches you expect not the bowlers but your batsmen to make the most of it. But they couldn't do much," former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV. In 2015, MS Dhoni has just two fifties. Suresh Raina has three, but he has scored a century as well. The biggest worry in terms of batting though would be Virat Kohli's prolonged lean patch. India's Test skipper averages just 32 in the last 10 ODIs he has played.
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Milestone Man Mustafizur
The biggest difference between Indian and Bangladesh in the last two matches has been an unheard of 19 year old fast bowler, Mustafizur Rahman. After his 5-wicket haul on debut, Mustafizur followed it up with 6 more wickets in the 2nd match, destroying the Indian batting line up single-handedly. His 11 scalps from his first two ODIs is a world record. (Mustafizur Destroys Indian Batting, Does an Encore of Fifers)
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The Rise and Rise of Bangladesh
Bangladesh are no longer the minnows of world cricket. They came into this series in good nick. At the World Cup they upset England in the group stages, before making it to the quarter final where they lost to India. At home, their record is enviable. Series wins against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and now India means the Bangla tigers are on a 10 match winning streak on home soil. "The bachchaas (kids) have definitely grown up. (Rise of Bangladesh spells doom for India and Pakistan)
They're now shoulder to shoulder with India. Look at the margins by which they've beaten India, they are not close wins, it's not that they somehow scraped through. These are big wins, thumping wins, convincing wins," Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV.
"The difference between India and Bangladesh may not be so much in the talent, but definitely in the temperament. But right now it's definitely Bangladesh that has played as the more superior side."
The combination of youth and experience in this Bangladeshi side means they are no pushovers. Their first bilateral series win has also helped Mashrafe Mortaza's side to qualify for the 2017 ICC World Cup in England.