"Delulu is the only solulu" - Aakash Chopra questions Bangladesh's tactics and approach in 2024 T20 World Cup loss to India
Aakash Chopra has criticized Bangladesh's tactics and approach in their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 loss to India. He questioned their decision to field first and their cautious batting in the first half of their innings.
India set Bangladesh a 197-run target in their second Super 8 game in Antigua on Saturday, June 22. The Men in Blue then restricted the Bangla Tigers to 146/8 to register a convincing 50-run win and climb atop the Group 1 points table.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto pressed the self-destruct button by asking India to set a target.
"Aa bail mujhe maar. Apne pair pe kulhadi marna. Another meaning of that is inviting India to bat first after winning the toss. When you are in the West Indies, it's a day game, the captain celebrates after winning the toss and the batters quickly tie their pads but Shanto said they want to bowl first," he said (0:01).
"They said they would catch and grab India, get them all out for 130, and score those runs. Delulu is the only solulu. What are you doing, Bangladesh? Yes, you were thinking that your bowling has the might and batting is slightly weak, but the toss," the former India opener added.
Chopra noted that Bangladesh were potentially deceived by the supposed slight moisture on the pitch which might have tempted them to move away from the usual template of batting first in a day game in the West Indies.
"On these grounds, especially in day games, I don't have a reason why it's happening, the match starts at 10:30 AM and slight moisture is seen on the pitch, which I feel is deceiving and deceptive and tempts you to bowl first. The pitch keeps getting slower later and then runs are not scored. This is happening in every match. This is the already prepared template. How did you miss it?," he observed.
India made the most of Bangladesh's benevolence and posted a mammoth total. While Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 50 off 27 deliveries, most other batters chipped in with quickfire twenties and thirties.
"There was no chance whatsoever after India scored 196" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Bangladesh were virtually out of the game once India set them a nearly 200-run target.
"There was no chance whatsoever after India scored 196. The point was whether we would win by 40 or 50 runs, and eventually we won by 50 runs. Bangladesh's start wasn't that bad, they were batting decently, but then a player got out to Hardik Pandya's bowling," he said (5:50).
The cricketer-turned-commentator questioned the Bangladesh batters' conservative approach in the first 10 overs.
"After that, there was a partnership for sure but the run-scoring was extremely slow. If you are chasing 196, you should score 100 in the first 10 overs because the wicket would get even slower and the powerplay had passed. However, that wasn't the case. They were 67 at the 10-over mark," Chopra elaborated.
Chopra concluded by observing that the Tigers' decision at the toss and inability to force the pace in the first half of their innings left him disappointed.
"If you are scoring six-and-a-half runs per over, it doesn't matter even if you have eight wickets in hand, because you are racing towards defeat. So Bangladesh, I am slightly disappointed by firstly your decision to bowl first and then not fully capitalizing on the first 10 overs in batting," he stated.
Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with a 32-ball 40. Tanzid Hasan, their second-highest run-getter, consumed 31 deliveries for his 29 runs.