After a crushing defeat in the first match at Gwalior, Bangladesh finds itself teetering on the brink.
Any further loss would see them eliminated from the series. Today, they take on the challenge of keeping their series hopes alive as they face India in Delhi.
The team has lost every match so far on the tour, but the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi offers a glimmer of hope. This ground holds Bangladesh's only victory over India on Indian soil, when they triumphed in a T20 match in 2019.
However, recent history suggests this optimism may be short-lived.
The stadium has become one of India’s most run-friendly venues in recent years, as evidenced by the latest edition of the IPL and other international matches.
Arun Jaitley Stadium hosted five IPL games this year, and in 8 out of 10 innings, teams scored over 200 runs. Although the IPL's impact player rule was in effect, the ground’s reputation as a high-scoring venue remains indisputable, and a score of 200 or more is again expected today.
This sets up a significant challenge for Bangladesh.
In their last outing, the fragility of their T20 batting was laid bare, as they were bowled out for just 127 runs on a straightforward batting wicket.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto openly admitted, "We are accustomed to playing on 140-150 run wickets at home, so we don't know how to score 180."
Today, the team faces the daunting task of batting on a pitch where 200 runs may be the minimum requirement.
Bangladesh’s ability to bridge the gap between themselves and the modern, high-scoring T20 teams will be severely tested as they fight to keep their series alive.
