BANGLADESH TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2025
Since his fine hundred against India in the Champions Trophy, Towhid Hridoy appears to be grappling with form and clarity in the shorter formats ©AFP
Towhid Hridoy’s form has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks as the young batter has struggled to live up to the expectations that followed his breakthrough performance. Since his fine hundred against India in the Champions Trophy, the right-hander has featured in one ODI and six T20Is over the past four months. But rather than building on that milestone, he appears to be grappling with form and clarity.
Hridoy earned high praise for that knock against India – an innings that showcased resilience and character. Battling cramps for the last 20 minutes, he still managed to push Bangladesh to a respectable total, although it wasn’t enough to trouble the Indian side.
Since then, though, the numbers have been underwhelming. He scored just 7 in Bangladesh’s next CT fixture against New Zealand, the only ODI he’s played since that ton. In the T20I series against UAE, where Bangladesh lost 2-1, Hridoy made scores of 20, 45, and 0. He followed that with 17, 5, and 25 against Pakistan in the next series.
These performances came on the heels of a troubling domestic episode, where Hridoy was handed a four-match ban for misbehaving with umpires during the Dhaka Premier League. It’s an incident many believe left a mark on him mentally.
All of this has transpired in a matter of weeks, just after he shot into the spotlight with that century against India. Expectations soared, and so did the scrutiny. Once known for his free-flowing, aggressive style, Hridoy has been attempting to re-calibrate his game – an ongoing process that may be affecting his natural rhythm.
It’s still early to sound alarm bells, given the small sample size. But Sohel Islam, his mentor and head of the Bangladesh Tigers programme, believes Hridoy must adapt quickly to avoid further dip in form.
“I think the pressure of expectation is too much for him at this moment. Hridoy is one of the leaders of our batting line. Being one of the leaders, many are seen not being able to carry the pressure of expectation,” Sohel told Cricbuzz. “I think Hridoy is going through a transition period. Earlier, when the pressure of expectation was less from him, he just used to go to the crease and smash. But now, he seems confused whether he should hit or make his innings longer. These calculations are too much for him.
“This change in roles… Some of the batters adapt it quickly, some may need time. After the hundred against India in Champions Trophy, he had a change in his mindset as he took on the anchor role himself to stay in the crease and take the game deeper,” he said. “This change had a negative impact on him. Also, losing quick wickets in middle overs is a problem. After a good start from the openers, when two batters get dismissed rapidly, Hridoy seems confused. He is not sure whether he will attack from the first ball or take some time.”
Sohel also pointed out that mental toughness and game awareness remain key areas of improvement for Hridoy and other young batters in the format. “I think mental toughness is an issue. Suppose, you need 60 from 30 balls. In this case, you know that your duty is to go to the crease and hit. Skill of the batters is the key here. If you want to hit 80 out of 100 balls, you would need the skill. I think we have to improve skills.”
With the Test series against Sri Lanka now concluded, Bangladesh’s focus shifts to white-ball cricket. For Hridoy, it’s a crucial phase to re-calibrate and re-frame his role, without being shackled by expectations. Bangladesh, eager to strengthen their white-ball core, will hope he can express himself more freely and rediscover the instincts that once made him one of their most exciting prospects.
© Cricbuzz
