Momentum. We hear the term bandied about a lot in cricket, but when you witness it shift literally in front of your eyes, the brutal nature of the game hits you square in the face. Bangladesh had it. They were brimming with confidence in powerplay, thanks to Tanzid Hasan’s fearless hitting, but just when the fans, us included, were ready for the innings to be anchored light years ahead of the rest, the balloon popped.
Powerplay Promise vs Post-Powerplay Puzzle
At the start, Tanzid Hasan looked like a man with a mission. Twelve balls, six boundaries—that’s the kind of start teams envision in T20 cricket. Yes, you could say a couple of those shots came off edges, but when you go for your shots in this format, that’s the price you pay. You ride your luck, keep the scoreboard moving, and hope the runs will come faster than the doubts can.
Bangladesh seemed to have nailed the formula: attack in the powerplay and then settle into a rhythm. But here’s the catch—once Tanzid slowed down after the field spread, the innings felt stuck. From 20 runs off 19 balls post-powerplay to just one boundary in that phase, the free-flowing strokeplay vanished. He looked shackled, almost like he was second-guessing every option. That’s where Mukund’s point hits home: when your set batter falls right after laying the platform, you’re basically hitting reset at a stage where acceleration is crucial.
Why Tanzid’s Wicket Was the Turning Point
In T20 cricket, wickets don’t just cost runs—they cost rhythm. Tanzid’s dismissal didn’t just remove a batter; it shifted the vibe. Imagine being the opposition bowlers: one moment you’re under pressure from aggressive strokeplay, the next you’ve got a new batter scratching around to get in. For the bowling side, that’s gold.
Additionally, another factor to consider is what happens when they lose a player. Noor Ahmad would bowl just after the power play, right at the moment when Bangladesh was trying to consolidate. Instead of continuing and moving on in the good position they had, they had already lost Litton Das, lost Tanzid, and it was now solely down to others to grip the bat and try to rebuild the innings. From there, things fell apart from that point. Shamim Hossain looked to have made a promising start, but then, with Rashid Khan and his cunning and spin, he broke the left-hand/right-hander combination before it got underway.
The Bigger Lesson for Bangladesh
This match wasn’t just about one dismissal. It highlighted a bigger issue for Bangladesh’s T20 approach: finishing the job. Aggressive starts are great, but in T20 cricket, it’s often the guy who bats till the 17th or 18th over that makes the real difference. That’s why Mukund stressed that Tanzid needed to carry on to a 70 or 75. Those runs not only add bulk to the total but also give freedom to hitters around him.
Bangladesh has been vocal about wanting to move away from the old-school “accumulator” approach at the top. They want fearless, boundary-hitting openers who set the tone. But here’s the twist: fearless cricket doesn’t mean reckless cricket. If your main aggressor throws his wicket just when the opposition’s spinners are coming into play, you’re basically gifting them control. Balance, not blind aggression, is what Bangladesh needs to master.
FAQs
- Why was Tanzid Hasan’s wicket considered the turning point?
Because it’s broken Bangladesh’s momentum right after a strong powerplay start.
- What did Abhinav Mukund highlight about Bangladesh’s innings?
He pointed out that Bangladesh lost momentum after Tanzid’s dismissal.
- How did Bangladesh perform in the power play compared to later overs?
They were aggressive early, but slowed down drastically after the field spread.
