On Tuesday, India offspinner R Ashwin joined the list of Mustafizur Rahman’s admirers saying that the young fast bowler must be credited for his record-breaking show, while admitting that India “failed as a unit” in the ODI series that will end with an inconsequential third game on Wednesday with Bangladesh already having taken a 2-0 winning lead.
It wasn’t expected of India to concede the series with a match to play; and Ashwin, who is the only Indian bowler to have left some kind of impression, agreed that India were found out by a side that had all bases covered.
“Losing the series is not an insult for us. A good side has beaten us,” Ashwin told reporters ahead of team practice here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. “Bangladesh know what needs to be done here. They are on the rise and will beat more top teams.”
The offie admitted, on his team’s part, that they haven’t been able to strike in unison.
“We failed as an unit but have learnt our lessons. It’s a challenge for us to win the last ODI,” Ashwin said before being thrown a question on how the team plans to handle Rahman who has been literally unplayable with spells of 5 for 40 and 6 for 43.
“We can’t kidnap Mustafizur,” he joked. “He is a really good bowler and we have to give respect to him. Hopefully, we will try and avoid a ‘Banglawash’.”
It has been a tough week for India, with Dhoni coming under the scanner for his captaincy and some reports of unrest in the Indian dressing room. But Ashwin quashed all that as mere rumours.
“Honestly, the Indian dressing room environment is not down despite the loss. The mood of the team is getting better; losing [this series] is not the end of it. We had a quiet couple of days. We would just like to finish it on a high. We would like to win the third ODI,” Ashwin opined.
“Very important to put the best XI on the park. Every member of the Indian team is fit for Wednesday’s game,” he added.
