The opening match for Bangladesh at the Asia Cup 2025 might not have been a nail-biter on the scorecard, but it provided plenty to ponder. While Litton Das’s half-century took centre stage, it was Towhid Hridoy’s calm and composed 35 that really did the ‘stealing’ of the limelight. In a team of besked (attackers), Hridoy’s role was quieter, but equally important. Let’s discuss why this middle-order man could provide a different dynamic for the Tigers.
Hridoy: The Calm in the Middle
When Bangladesh was at a precarious position at 49/3 in conjunction with chasing a modest score, it was Hridoy who steadied the ship. He made an unbeaten 35 from 36 balls without any highlighted sixes or massive runs from risky singles. He played the ball, not the man, timing his innings perfectly, controlling and timing the game as he felt he needed to go. His innings and the partnership with Litton Das in adding 95 to the total were very flexible.
Towhid Hridoy’s innings indicated that he can offer two roles – to be the anchor when required or to properly attack when the time comes. In his innings against Hong Kong, Hridoy was more focused on building the innings as opposed to trying to finish it off too early. As a result, the more aggressive batters were able to play naturally and without the pressure of wickets, build the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Tweaks in Bangladesh’s Bowling Strategy
Hridoy might have stolen all of the headlines with his batting, but another intriguing takeaway from the opener was the team’s trial and error with the death overs. Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hassan Saqib, who normally bowl the final two overs, had their 20 overs bowled by the 18th over. Who stepped in? Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed to complete the innings.
Some consider this a risk, but it could be a purposeful test of bench strength against a comparatively softer team by the captain. However, the expectation is that Bangladesh will return to their normal death-over plan against tougher competition. The opener was the laboratory to try out a different plan, and it worked, but the true test comes against better competition when every over will count.
Hridoy’s Growing Cricket IQ
The best thing about Hridoy was his mentality. He would rather win a match than get personal milestones or big style points. He would not shy away from being a few degrees of aggressive, and he took some chances when he deemed it right. This balance between carefulness and attacking is often what the Bangladesh batting middle order has been missing historically.
Hridoy’s innings also showcased his ability to read the match situation. He had the feel for when to rotate the strike, when to defend, and when to try for runs. In T20 and one-day formats, this cricket IQ can separate you from a close win to a heart-stopping loss. If he can continue to develop his role in this capacity, he could be a trusty linchpin for Bangladesh in challenging pressure situations.
FAQs
- What role did Towhid Hridoy play in Bangladesh’s opener?
He anchored the innings with a calm 35*, building a crucial partnership in the middle order.
- Why was Hridoy’s innings important for the team?
It provided stability and allowed the more aggressive batters to play freely.
- Did Bangladesh experiment with their death-over bowling?
Yes, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hassan Saqib were rested in the last two overs, with Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed finishing instead.
