Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed acknowledged on Friday that his team’s position was weakened in the first Test against India after losing too many wickets within the initial 10 overs. Facing a strong Indian bowling attack, Taskin admitted that the early dismissals significantly impacted their momentum. He credited the Indian bowlers for their world-class performance, stating that their side struggled to cope with the pressure. Taskin emphasized the importance of a strong start, which they failed to achieve, putting Bangladesh on the defensive early in the match.
Taskin Ahmed on Bangladesh’s Batting Collapse:
Bangladesh struggled in response to India’s first-innings score of 376, being bowled out for 149 in 47.1 overs on the second day. Shakib Al Hasan top-scored for Bangladesh with 32 runs. The team had a shaky start, losing three wickets within the first 10 overs while managing to put only 27 runs on the board. This early collapse put them in a difficult position, significantly hindering their chances of mounting a competitive total.
He said, “ Overall, our batting was a little bit disappointing. Yeah, there is some help for the fast bowlers, but still, we could have done much better than that. So yeah, we are disappointed,” Ahmed said at the press conference after the day’s play. We also lost too many wickets in the first 10 (overs), which cost us our game.”
Taskin Ahmed on Playing With SG Ball:
Bangladesh cricketers are more accustomed to playing with Kookaburra balls, which feature a flatter seam in contrast to the SG balls. The difference in the seam profile can influence their performance, as Kookaburra balls behave differently than SG balls, which are commonly used in India and offer more grip and swing for the bowlers.
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He further said, “ Also, playing with the SG ball is a challenge. The Indians play with SG ball since childhood, so they know how to use it properly, giving them a huge advantage. We also made some mistakes with the new ball. What I felt about the SG ball and this condition is that there were some challenges, especially for the first 10-12 overs. India is a formidable side against any opponent at home. And everyone tries to make the most out of the home advantage, the same as we will do when we play at home soon.”
As long as they bowled, Taskin was very satisfied with their bowling performance. He said, “ Yes, yesterday we started well, and at the end of the day, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja batted well. Also, this morning, we had a good session, and then we finished them all in 37 runs by taking four more wickets. So overall, we bowled well. Yesterday, there was more help than today.”
While talking about Indian bowlers, he added, “ No doubt they all are world-class. They were more consistent with their line and lengths, and there were plenty of variations in the Indian bowling attack. “
India ended the day at 81 for 3 in their second innings, holding a commanding overall lead of 308 runs. Taskin Ahmed, who claimed three wickets in the first innings and one in the second, admitted that Bangladesh’s lack of experience with SG balls contributed to their struggles, affecting their ability to adapt to the conditions effectively.
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