The Bangladesh women's cricket team faced a disappointing end to their T20I series against India, succumbing to a 21-run defeat in the final match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
This loss resulted in a 5-0 series whitewash, raising concerns about the team's preparedness for the upcoming big events including the World Cup later this year.
Chasing a target of 156, Bangladesh managed 135 for 6. Despite a late surge by Ritu Moni (37) and Sharifa Khatun (28), the team fell short of victory.
India started their innings aggressively, with Smriti Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha building a quickfire partnership before Nahida Akter dismissed Mandhana for 33.
Hemalatha continued to punish the Bangladeshi bowlers, scoring 37 off 28 balls. Despite a late flurry of wickets, India's total proved to be too much for the hosts.
While Bangladesh's bowling showed some improvement with Nahida Akter and Rabeya Khan taking two wickets each, the batting inconsistencies remained a major concern.
Captain Nigar Sultana failed to reach double figures for the third time in the series, highlighting the need for improvement in the top order.
The series defeat raises questions about Bangladesh's preparation for the upcoming major tournaments.