"Bangladesh, do you actually compete?" - Aakash Chopra after India's crushing win in IND vs BAN 2024 2nd T20I
Aakash Chopra has questioned Bangladesh for their lack of competitiveness in the second T20I against India and the entire tour thus far. He pointed out that the Bangla Tigers have been outplayed in both the Tests and the first two T20Is.
India thrashed Bangladesh by 86 runs in the second T20I in Delhi on Wednesday, October 9. The hosts posted 221/9 after being asked to bat first and restricted the visitors to 135/9 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' he highlighted number 'seven' in the first two T20Is and criticized Bangladesh for their 'extremely ordinary' performance.
"India won the first match by seven wickets. Seven bowlers were used in this match and all seven bowlers were successful. This was the seventh consecutive win at home in a T20I series. India have won in Gautam Gambhir's new tenure. Bangladesh - do you actually compete? They have been extremely ordinary," he said (0:01).
The former India opener noted that Bangladesh were expected to be competitive after a recent Test series win (2-0) in Pakistan.
"Is Bangladesh even competitive? It's a big, big question. Considering the sort of cricket they have played, it has asked me two questions. Bangladesh are coming after beating Pakistan in Pakistan in Test matches, so it was expected they would compete in India. Where have you competed?" Chopra observed.
Chopra wondered whether Bangladesh's capitulation in the ongoing series reflects their as well as Pakistan's cricket standards.
"There they defeated Pakistan in two Test matches. Here they won only two sessions in the Test matches. They lost the second Test in two days. What does it tell us about Bangladesh and what does it tell us about even Pakistan? How seriously should we take that you became a good team after doing well against Pakistan?" he added.
India had registered resounding wins in both Tests against Bangladesh as well. While they won the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs, they beat Najmul Hossain Shanto and company by seven wickets in the second Test in Kanpur despite losing more than two-and-a-half days due to rain and a wet outfield.
"They are playing pedestrian cricket" - Aakash Chopra on Bangladesh's performances in T20Is
![India beat Bangladesh by seven wickets with 8.1 overs to spare in the first T20I. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/8e031-17285352503166-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra said Bangladesh have been 'pedestrian' in T20Is and highlighted the lack of match-winners in their lineup.
"That was the story of the Test matches. If we talk about T20Is, they are playing pedestrian cricket. They are playing extremely mediocre cricket. If you check their entire team, you will find that there would be a rare batter who plays at a strike rate of 135-140, I am talking about their career stats, and there would be a rare batter who bats an average of over 30," he said (1:05).
The reputed commentator added that India and Bangladesh have operated at disparate levels, with the latter being extremely 'disappointing.'
"You rarely see a match-winner, a very good opener or a finisher. They have looked very, very pedestrian. The truth thus far is that we haven't had matches but two mismatches. The Indian team is operating at the top and Bangladesh at the bottom. The sort of cricket Bangladesh are playing, it is very, very, very disappointing," Chopra elaborated.
Mahmadullah (41 off 39) was the only Bangladesh player to score more than 20 runs in the second T20I against India. Only Najmul Hossain Shanto (11 off 7) had a strike rate of more than 135 in their innings.