In Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ODI 2025 the immediate aftermath of Bangladesh’s dramatic loss to Sri Lanka in the first ODI at Khettarama, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed delivered an honest and emotional assessment of what went wrong. Speaking after the match, Taskin admitted that panic and pressure had undone his side despite their flying start in the run chase.
“I was expecting we would win with five to seven overs in hand,” he said. And for the first 16 overs of the innings, it looked like that expectation was on the money. Bangladesh were coasting at 96 for 1, with openers Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto playing with fluency and confidence. The chase of 245 looked almost effortless. But as Taskin himself conceded — in cricket, expectations often diverge sharply from reality.
Also Read :-cricketer vaibhav Suryawanshi
The Turning Point: A Run-Out and a Rapid Slide
The slide began with a moment of sharp fielding from Sri Lankan debutant Milan Rathnayake, who pounced on a loose opportunity and ran out Shanto for 23. The dismissal didn’t just cost Bangladesh a set batter; it shattered the rhythm they had built so carefully.
In the same over, Sri Lanka’s leg-spinning maestro Wanindu Hasaranga struck with a deadly lbw off only his second delivery. In a matter of minutes, Bangladesh’s commanding position crumbled into uncertainty. From 100 for 1, they tumbled to 107 for 8. The momentum had not just shifted—it had completely flipped.
“Those two wickets in that one over was the turning point,” Taskin acknowledged. “Definitely, we batted badly in the middle phase, but we had a great start. Then suddenly, everything just fell apart.”
The Role of Panic in the Collapse
Bangladesh’s total unraveling—seven wickets for five runs—was one of the worst collapses in ODI history. And while credit must go to Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly Hasaranga and Kamindu Mendis, Taskin believes that much of the damage was self-inflicted.
“After that great start, we were a bit relaxed, thinking everything was going our way,” Taskin said. “Then that run-out happened, and Tamim got out. After that, we panicked. We stopped playing our natural game. We were under pressure, and that’s how we collapsed.”
It was a refreshingly honest admission from a senior player—one that pointed to a mental lapse, not just a technical one. In high-pressure situations, the ability to maintain composure is often what separates winners from also-rans. Bangladesh, despite their experience, faltered when it mattered most.
Jaker Ali’s Lone Stand
In the ruins of Bangladesh’s batting line-up, Jaker Ali stood tall with a composed 51 off 64 balls. While wickets kept tumbling around him, he remained collected and methodical. According to Taskin, had two or three more batters stayed at the crease with Jaker, the match was still winnable.
“Jaker batted really well,” Taskin noted. “When he got set, he looked solid. If he had just two or three batters with him, we could’ve still chased that target. Looking at how he and others played, the wicket didn’t seem that bad. We just didn’t do our part.”
Jaker’s effort highlighted that the pitch was not the villain. The conditions were challenging, yes, but not unplayable. It was Bangladesh’s inability to respond under pressure, rather than the nature of the surface, that led to their downfall.
Bangladesh’s Search for Consistency
The collapse raises deeper concerns about Bangladesh’s consistency in pressure moments. Despite building a promising core and gaining experience over the years, the team continues to experience dramatic collapses, particularly against familiar foes like Sri Lanka.
This wasn’t the first time they lost a game from a winning position, and Taskin’s words reveal a painful awareness of that pattern.
“We need to work on our mindset during those crucial middle overs,” he said. “We can’t keep repeating the same mistakes.”
Bangladesh’s campaign began with promise, but unless they find ways to stabilize during the middle phases of an innings, such performances will continue to haunt them. In white-ball cricket especially, matches can pivot in moments. What matters is how a team responds to those turning points—and this time, Bangladesh simply didn’t.
Lessons Ahead of the Second ODI
The next match will be a test of Bangladesh’s mental strength and learning curve. With plenty of talent in the squad and evident capability, the onus is now on the leadership and senior players to ensure that panic does not define the team’s response when under pressure.
Taskin’s candid reflections show that the players are aware of the problem. Whether they can fix it remains the bigger question.
Conclusion: A Game Lost in the Mind
Cricket is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Bangladesh had the skills. They had the start. They had the target well within reach. But once the calm broke, they were swept away by a tide of anxiety and poor decisions. Taskin Ahmed’s post-match words paint a clear picture: they lost not because they were outclassed, but because they were overwhelmed.
There is value in such honesty. Perhaps, it is the first step toward building a team that can hold its nerve in moments of chaos. As Taskin said, “We didn’t play our natural game under pressure.” To succeed in international cricket, that is the habit Bangladesh must break.
Read more :-1. cricket test match updates