The Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match in the Asia Cup never fails to provide the spice. Maybe not on India-Pakistan levels of rivalry, but there is definitely a lot on the line when these teams meet. This time, the story did not center around the mainstays of Mushfiqur Rahim or Litton Das; rather, it was Towhid Hridoy that was the subject of the day. But what was it so special about Hridoy’s performance? Why is everybody saying he is the “smartest person in the field” of the match? Let’s look into it.
Reading the Field, Playing the Smarts
Most batters love to dominate by sheer power, but Hridoy’s brilliance lay in his cricketing IQ. Aakash Chopra pointed out something interesting—Hridoy didn’t just swing blindly at deliveries, he actually studied the field setup and anticipated where the ball was going to land. On a slow surface, instead of slogging across the line, he trusted his top hand and went over covers, arguably one of the hardest shots to execute on such wickets.
What stood out was how he forced the Sri Lankan captain to move his fielders. First, he went aerial over cover, pushing the field back. Then he sliced one through point, making the bowler and captain second-guess every move. In one particular over from Kamindu Mendis, Hridoy milked 16 runs by just outsmarting the bowler with placement rather than brute strength.
Why This Is Great News for Bangladesh
For years, Bangladesh’s biggest problem has been its overreliance on a handful of senior players. If Tamim, Shakib, or Mushfiqur failed, the whole team usually crumbled. This match, however, showed a different story. Litton Das didn’t click. Mushfiqur didn’t score big. And yet, Bangladesh managed to cross the line comfortably. That’s huge.
Chopra noted that this ultimately reflects the maturity developing within the Bangladesh batting line-up. No longer are the days of one or two stars doing the heavy lifting; now you have the likes of Hridoy stepping up when the moment is paramount. This is the type of depth that teams like India and Australia have, where every contributor matters, not just the stars.
The Bigger Side Strategy: A Lesson for Young Batters
Another interesting thing was the way Hridoy utilized the dimensions of the ground. Typically, batters like to hit to the shorter side of the ground—it’s the easier boundary option. Hridoy turned that on its head. He continued to hit the bigger side of the ground, not out of some bravado, but because he was backing his placement. Hitting the gaps on the bigger side of the ground not only allowed him to collect runs, but he also had Sri Lankan fielders on the alert constantly.
This kind of decision-making separates the average players from the special ones. Young batters watching this game should take notes: it’s not always about power-hitting or fancy strokes. Sometimes, playing the percentages and keeping your cricket brain switched on is what wins you matches.
FAQs
- Why was Aakash Chopra impressed with Towhid Hridoy’s batting?
Aakash Chopra praised Hridoy’s smart shot selection and ability to outthink the bowlers.
- What made Hridoy’s knock different from typical power-hitting?
He relied on placement and cricketing IQ rather than brute strength.
- Why is Hridoy’s performance significant for Bangladesh?
It showed that Bangladesh is no longer fully dependent on senior players.
