Litton Das Death Bowling Concerns Highlighted Ahead of T20 World Cup

Litton Das Death Bowling Concerns Highlighted Ahead of T20 World Cup

Litton Das, captain of the Bangladesh T20I team, has emphasized the urgent need for improvement in death bowling as his side prepares for the T20 World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka early next year.

While Bangladesh has achieved impressive results in recent months—winning consecutive T20I series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan—Litton remains focused on a key weakness that could hurt them on the big stage.

“We are bowling very well with the new ball, but we need to do well in the death overs,” said Litton after the 2-1 T20I series win over Pakistan on Friday.

🔍 Spotlight on Death Bowling: Mustafizur Reliable, Others Need Improvement

The captain singled out Mustafizur Rahman as the only dependable death-over specialist at present.

“We all know how deadly Mustafizur can be in the death overs. But for the others, this is the time to improve,” Litton stated.

Mustafizur, known for his off-cutters and yorkers, remains a reliable finisher. However, others like Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and even part-time pacers have failed to replicate similar consistency in the final overs.

Litton’s remarks are timely, considering that death bowling often decides the fate of close T20 matches. Against world-class finishers in India or Sri Lanka, any margin of error could prove costly.

🔄 Rotation Policy: A Must for Pacer Fitness

In a further statement, Litton underlined the importance of a rotation policy for pacers, especially given the injury history of key bowlers.

“Taskin has returned to T20s after a long time. If he keeps playing continuously, the chances of injury are higher for him,” he said.

He also highlighted Shoriful Islam’s injury woes:

“He had a groin injury during the Pakistan series at home, and then again in Kandy and Dambulla.”

Litton suggested that Bangladesh has more than three pacers who could step up if needed, but fitness management must take precedence. Litton Das Death Bowling

“Every player deserves an opportunity, but at the same time, their fitness must be carefully monitored.”

This insight from Litton signals a shift toward a data-driven and scientific approach to player workload—something Bangladesh has been criticized for neglecting in the past.

🧠 Mental and Physical Balance: Key for Pacers

Beyond physical fatigue, Litton hinted at the mental toll long series can take on fast bowlers. Bangladesh’s core pacers—Taskin, Shoriful, and Mustafizur—played across formats and series without adequate rest.

“You have to understand how many games a player can handle in a row,” Litton cautioned.

With the Asia Cup 2025 and World Cup coming up, strategic player management is not just a luxury but a necessity. Litton Das Death Bowling

🔁 Middle Order Backed, But Backups Needed

While death bowling is one concern, middle-order consistency is another puzzle Litton is keen to solve.

Despite the inconsistencies of Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, and Shamim Patowary, Litton expressed faith in the trio. Litton Das Death Bowling

“I believe that Hridoy, the way he bats, along with Jaker and Shamim, they are currently Bangladesh’s best middle-order batters.”

Still, the captain acknowledged the need for ready replacements, in case of injuries or sudden drops in form.

“Our vision is related to the World Cup. If one of these three players gets injured, then we must have backups ready.”

Names like Afif Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, or even Soumya Sarkar could be in the fray to plug gaps when needed. Litton Das Death Bowling

Rest Period Before Asia Cup

The Bangladesh players are set to go on a break, following more than 40 days of non-stop cricket, including home and away series.

The rescheduling of the India series has provided the team a much-needed pause. This will be followed by a training camp focused on preparing for the Asia Cup, likely to be the final major tournament before the World Cup. Litton Das Death Bowling

Why Death Bowling Could Decide Bangladesh’s Fate

Bangladesh’s bowling in the first 10 overs has generally been disciplined. However, death-over sloppiness has often turned winning positions into defeats. Litton Das Death Bowling

In high-pressure T20 tournaments like the World Cup:

• A single poor over at the death can cost 15-20 runs.

• Close matches are usually decided in the final 12 balls.

• Teams like India, Australia, and South Africa have specialists who can exploit weak death bowlers.

Unless bowlers like Taskin and Shoriful step up, Mustafizur alone might not be able to carry the burden.

What Next for Bangladesh?

Bangladesh’s T20 journey in 2025 will revolve around:

• Improving death bowling through practice and analytics

• Managing pacer workloads to avoid injury setbacks

• Testing backup players in the middle-order

• Maximizing match awareness and adaptability

Captain Litton Das has sounded the right alarms at the right time. Whether the team management responds with action remains to be seen. Litton Das Death Bowling

For more updates, follow Cricmind on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube.