Bangladesh were swept aside by an aggressive Rohit Sharma on a flat batting track in Rajkot in the second T20I on Thursday after the Tigers' errors led to a middling score, allowing the Indian captain to make things look easy during his 43-ball 85.  General Chat Chat Lounge

 Life was difficult for the bowlers on that surface.  Bangladesh had picked three seamers but once the Indian captain got going, he was finding the boundary on a regular basis.  The pitch too played a part as the flat and hard surface allowed the batsmen to play with their shots easily.  For Bangladesh, there was not much to take heart apart from leg-spinner Aminul Islam's performance during that tough period when everyone else was going for runs.


The young leg-spinner, who got a surprise call-up during the home tri-series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in October, has remained a part of the T20I side ever since.  The India series is however a big step up in terms of challenges and so far, Aminul has shown that he can manage pressure situations and read the batsmen well.  Having bagged two important wickets in the first T20I, Aminul turned out to be the only bowler who survived the Rohit storm.  He also thwarted the India captain scoring a ton in his 100th T20I.

 Spinners Afif Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain could not bowle for more than one over each, going for 13 and 21 runs respectively.  Pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Shafiul Islam went on over nine runs and in those situations, the young leggie picked up two wickets for 29 runs, figures closely resembling his Indian leggie counterpart Yuzvendra Chahal who bagged two wickets and conceded 28 runs.

 He was praised by captain Mahmudullah Riyad after showing courage for the game.  Aminul had flighted the ball while others were going around him for big sixes.  "He bowled well in the first match and today he also showed lots of courage.  I told him that if you can do well against strong opposition such as this, you will have more self-confidence, "Mahmudullah said of Aminul.

 "We all know how strong India's batting is and I think his confidence level is good ... it's in the right place.  If he can continue and bring us some wickets in the next match then it will be good for us, ”Mahmudullah added.

 Not long ago, 20-year-old Aminul was playing for the emerging team and the Bangladesh A team.  Not even recognized as a specialist spinner, he has proven to be a handy addition to a side craving leg-spinners.  In T20 cricket, where batsmen take more chances, he has shown the ability to stick to his guns, and a surprising degree of accuracy.  But things won't be rosy for the young wrist-spinner.  So often in Bangladesh, a young player makes an early mark but falls away not being played and lacking in confidence.

 With the BCB now mandating the use of leg-spinners in domestic leagues like the NCL, wrist-spinners will likely have more exposure but only time will tell if Aminul will make the cut.  However, with the team now being formed for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the BCB think tank may look to Aminul for substance in the shortest form of the game.