Bangladesh’s Litton Das Blames His Own Country For Poor Record

Litton Das blames BCB [Source: AFP, @IMManu_18/x.com]Litton Das has been one of Bangladesh’s most naturally gifted batters. The timing is silky, the strokes are effortless, and on his day, he can make even quality bowlers look ordinary. Yet, when fans glance at his ODI average, the numbers do not quite match the talent. Litton believes he knows exactly why. In a brutally honest assessment, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter said his record has suffered because he played a large chunk of his career on the notoriously difficult pitches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Litton Das gives honest verdict on his ODI average Litton Das currently averages just over 30 in ODI cricket, and he made it clear that he is far from satisfied. “There’s nothing to be proud of with a 30 average in ODIs.” The Bangladesh T20I captain admitted that while such numbers may look acceptable in the context of Bangladesh cricket, they would be considered poor if he played for another major nation. “If this average came while playing for another country, I would definitely say it’s poor.” It was a refreshingly candid assessment from a player who has often been judged by numbers alone. Also Read- 2024 Déjà Vu In Litton Das' Bat As Bangladesh Crisis Man Resurrects BAN vs PAK TestMirpur pitches took a toll For a long time, the Mirpur surface was a paradise for bowlers and a nightmare for batters. On many occasions, even modest totals felt like Mount Everest. In T20Is, chasing 120 could become a tense affair. In ODIs, 250 often looked like a winning score. Litton believes those conditions had a direct impact on his record.“If I hadn’t played so many matches at Sher-e-Bangla, my average and strike rate wouldn’t be this low.”Litton pointed out that he was not the only one who found Mirpur difficult. Several elite international batters also failed to crack the code at the venue. “Many world-class batters came here and struggled.” Better wickets offer fresh hope The good news, according to Litton, is that Bangladesh have started preparing better batting surfaces. He believes this shift can help the next generation of batters post stronger numbers. “The wickets have become much better lately. If conditions stay like this for another five or six years, it will help a lot.” If these improved conditions continue for the next five or six years, Litton feels Bangladeshi batters will see a significant rise in both averages and strike rates. Litton’s personal goal Litton has set his sights high. He wants to finish his ODI career with an average between 40 and 45. That would be a massive jump from where he stands today, but he believes it is achievable if Bangladesh continue producing fairer batting tracks. “I want to finish my ODI career with an average between 40 and 45.”Litton also acknowledged the irony of the situation. Bangladesh often won matches on difficult home pitches, and that success masked the long-term damage to individual batting records. “Earlier, those pitches were enough to damage a batter’s numbers. But people were happy because the team was winning.” Litton calls himself a batter first Although he contributes behind the stumps, Litton made it clear that he sees himself primarily as a batter. He wants his numbers in both Tests and ODIs to better reflect his talent. And if Bangladesh continue serving up better surfaces, he may finally get the chance to let his bat do all the talking. Also Read- Watch-Litton Das Badly Insults Mohammad Rizwan; Tells Him Not To Enter Pakistan