After a 99-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the third ODI at Pallekele, Bangladesh suffered their third straight ODI series loss in nine months, drawing intense scrutiny of their misfiring batting lineup. With the T20I series set to begin Thursday, there’s little time for recovery—and mounting pressure now falls on T20I captain Litton Das.
Litton was dropped after the first ODI in Colombo due to poor form, continuing a troubling two-year run in T20Is. Since October, he has managed just 218 runs in 12 matches at a dismal average of 18.16. Bangladesh, under his captaincy, also lost their last two T20I series against the UAE and Pakistan.
While his teammates played the third ODI, Litton was in training with the T20I squad. Speaking in Pallekele, he acknowledged his dip in performance:
“Every match matters to me. I try my best wherever I play, but sometimes things don’t go your way. Success and failure are part of the game. What matters is understanding why it happens and overcoming it.”
He also admitted to not performing well in ODIs, which cost him his spot:
“They gave me chances, but I couldn’t capitalise. I’m training hard and hope to earn my place back through domestic cricket and T20I performances.”
Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain, speaking just before Litton, said the team still sees value in Litton’s experience, especially after losing seasoned players like Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur Rahim.
“Litton showed signs of returning to form after being dropped for the Champions Trophy. He did well in the Test series against Sri Lanka, and with the middle order lacking experience, we thought he could help fill the void,” Ashraf said.
He stressed that the selectors backed Litton based on more than just statistics:
“He has been a key player for Bangladesh for over a decade. He’s going through a tough phase, but we take full responsibility for his selection. Our faith was based on discussions with the team management.”
As the T20I series begins, Litton Das not only faces the challenge of turning around his personal form but also must lead a team struggling to find consistency, especially in the absence of its senior pillars.
