The recently concluded T20 series against India was a tough learning experience for Bangladesh’s young leg-spinner, Rishad Hossain. After shining brightly in the T20 World Cup and home series with exceptional bowling, Rishad found himself on the receiving end of a heavy assault by India’s batters. His performance in the India series, particularly the third T20, fell far short of expectations, as Sanju Samson smashed him for five sixes in a single over, yielding 30 runs.

Rishad’s struggle was a stark contrast to his impressive stint in the T20 World Cup, where he had been one of Bangladesh’s standout bowlers. He not only contained runs but also claimed key wickets, ranking among the top six wicket-takers in the tournament. However, the series against India served as a reminder of how challenging cricket can be on flat, high-scoring pitches, especially against world-class opposition.

Despite his rough outing, Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy remains confident in Rishad’s abilities. During the post-match press conference, Hridoy expressed strong support for his teammate, emphasizing the importance of sticking together as a team and learning from setbacks.

“We absolutely need to back Rishad,” Hridoy said. “Yes, he didn’t bowl well today, but if you look at his performances in the World Cup and elsewhere, he has been exceptional. Indian wickets are the kind where even the best bowlers can get hit. T20 is a game of runs, and we all had a bad day. We must support our teammates, and I’m sure this team will bounce back stronger. This is a great example of how we need to improve on flat wickets, whether it’s in batting, bowling, or fielding. Next time, with better planning and improved skills, we will definitely come back stronger, Insha'Allah.”

Bangladesh’s tour of India ended on a sour note, losing the T20 series 3-0 after also being swept 2-0 in the preceding Test series. Despite the heavy defeats, players like Hridoy remain optimistic about the team’s potential to grow and learn from the experience.