Litton’s Tactical Move Pays Off as Bangladesh Clinch Historic T20I Series Win in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, July 16 – Bangladesh captain Litton Kumar Das revealed that his decision to include Shak Mahedi Hasan over Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the Colombo T20I had been made long before the tour began. The move turned out to be a masterstroke as Mahedi delivered a sensational spell of 4 for 11, powering Bangladesh to a commanding eight-wicket victory and sealing their first-ever series win in Sri Lanka across all formats.
Speaking to reporters after the triumph, Litton explained that his selections are dictated by conditions rather than reputations.
“I always intended to play Mahedi in Colombo,” Litton said. “He suits this kind of surface well. It doesn't mean Mehidy isn't a quality player, but as captain, I prioritize picking the right XI based on the pitch. On bowling-friendly tracks, Mahedi is my first choice. On batting-friendly surfaces, Miraz will return.”
The decision proved pivotal after Bangladesh rebounded from a disappointing start to the series, including defeats in the Test and ODI legs and a loss in the first T20I. Their emphatic win in the second match shifted momentum, and a revitalized side carried that confidence into the series decider.
“Winning the second game by 83 runs gave us belief,” said Litton. “That win changed the mood in the dressing room. We’ve always trained hard to give 100 percent on the field, and it finally clicked.”
Litton Rediscovers Form
Litton, who had been struggling with the bat, made valuable contributions in both the second and third T20Is. He credited persistence and self-belief for his turnaround.
“I never lost faith in myself during my ten years in international cricket. I kept working hard, never skipped training, and stayed mentally ready,” he said. “Sometimes, luck plays a part too. In the second game, I got an opportunity and made it count.”
Pakistan Series Next – A New Test
With T20I series wins now under his belt in both the West Indies and Sri Lanka, Litton is eyeing Bangladesh’s next challenge — a home series against Pakistan. He acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming matches, especially with Mirpur’s unpredictable pitch during monsoon season.
“It won’t be easy against Pakistan in Mirpur,” he said. “The pitch might be difficult due to constant rain. Pakistan have a strong, varied bowling attack and know our conditions well through the BPL. But if we play smart cricket, we can beat them.”
Asalanka Admits Tactical Error
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka conceded that his decision to bat first in Colombo may have backfired.
“I misread the pitch,” Asalanka admitted. “Mahedi bowled superbly, and Bangladesh fielded very well. We made too many mistakes — and in T20 cricket, those are costly.”
Asalanka acknowledged that Sri Lanka are still in an experimental phase ahead of the World Cup, testing various middle-order combinations.
“We’re preparing for the World Cup by trying different line-ups. We won the 2024 T20 World Cup but had a weak middle order back then. So we’re trying players like Chandimal at No. 4 and tweaking our lower order,” he explained.
Despite the loss, Asalanka insisted experimentation isn’t an excuse for poor performance.
“We still play to win. We just need to reduce our mistakes and find the right balance quickly,” he said.
With the win, Bangladesh not only made history but also sent a clear message about their intent and growing depth in T20 cricket. For Litton Das, it was a personal and professional milestone one achieved through foresight, resilience, and tactical nous.
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