I feel we fell short by 30-40 runs: Hridoy

Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy against India. However, his own batting performance was short-lived, as he was dismissed for a duck while coming in at number three. Bangladesh's position quickly worsened, as they were reduced to a precarious 35 for 5 early on.

At this critical juncture, Jaker Ali Anik and Tawhid Hridoy took charge and rescued Bangladesh from a near-collapse. Hridoy, despite battling a leg muscle cramp that limited his ability to run between the wickets and even stand still to play shots, showed remarkable resilience. His courage and determination saw him push through the pain and bring up his maiden ODI century, a knock of 100 runs off 118 balls.

Hridoy and Jaker's sixth-wicket partnership became the backbone of Bangladesh's innings. Jaker, who scored a valuable 68 runs, was eventually dismissed, but his contribution helped Bangladesh reach 228 runs by the end of their innings. Hridoy’s efforts were especially commendable, considering his physical discomfort. He acknowledged his own frustration in not being able to finish the innings, stating that his injury had prevented him from maximizing his potential and taking the team to a higher total.

Reflecting on the match after the loss, Hridoy said in the post-match conference, "I feel we fell short by 30-40 runs. If either Zakir or I had been able to finish properly, we could have reached around 260-270 runs. The game scenario would have been different then."

Despite the setback of losing wickets early, Hridoy remained optimistic about their chances in the game. He mentioned that they were ready to fight with the score they had posted, emphasizing that if they could take a couple of early Indian wickets, the match could swing in their favor. He also mentioned that his cramps had a bigger impact on the game than Jaker’s dismissal.

Hridoy added, "If I had been fully fit, we could have added another 20-30 runs. But, at the end of the day, it’s about fighting with what we have. We always play to win, no matter how many runs we score."

While Bangladesh could not build on the momentum after Hridoy and Jaker’s partnership, their fighting spirit remained evident throughout. The team’s resilience, led by Hridoy’s brave performance despite the injury, served as a reminder of their determination, even in the face of adversity.