CHENNAI: Bangladesh veteran Shakib Al Hasan, one of the greatest allrounders of this era, has been looking a pale shadow of his former self in recent times.
The 37-year-old's below-par show in the huge defeat to India in the first Test - considering the lofty standards he has set for himself over the years - was a microcosm of the struggles he has been facing in international red ball cricket.
While Shakib could not convert his starts into big ones with the blade after settling in (scores of 32 and 25), he was taken to the cleaners with the ball, conceding more than six runs per over in both the innings (0-50 off 8 overs and 0-79 off 13 overs).
The uninspiring performance at Chepauk was the latest episode in a lean patch that has extended for months now and the prolonged poor run has led to questions being raised about his place in the XI. When asked how difficult it is to persist with an out-of-form Shakib in the team, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said, "It is a very brave question. I am not saying this just because it is about Shakib. I can see that he is struggling. But as a captain, I look at how much hard work he is putting into his game. It is important to see his intentions and how much he is willing to give for the team.
"Some might think that I am saying this because the question is about Shakib. I try to look at every player in the same way, whether it is Nahid Rana, Mushfiqur Rahim or anyone for that matter."
Shakib is yet to hit a half-century in this calendar year, with his highest score in seven innings being 36, which came against Sri Lanka in Chattogram in March. The left-arm spinner has picked only nine wickets in eight innings in 2024 and has gone wicketless in the last three.
"More than whether he is scoring runs or not, I look at how his preparation is, what he is thinking about the team. He is doing everything possible to get his form back. I am happy with the way every member of this Test squad has been preparing," said Shanto.
The Bangladesh captain also justified his decision to sparingly use Shakib the bowler. "Seeing how the pace bowlers were doing, I did not need him. The plan was to keep the fast bowlers on for longer. We took six wickets quickly."
