Towhid Hridoy has marked a strong comeback for Bangladesh in the recent home white-ball assignment against New Zealand, a stretch that followed a tough period on the sidelines. Across the three One-Day Internationals, the batter averaged 118, while in the two T20 Internationals he contributed scores of 51 not out and 33, reinforcing his growing importance for the team in shorter formats. In a wide-ranging discussion, he spoke about the mental strain of returning from a tennis-elbow problem, his approach in the nets, adjusting to changing batting positions, and how he processes both praise and criticism.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on how demanding the New Zealand series was after his injury layoff, Hridoy admitted that the challenge was as much psychological as physical. He said the pain was never fully out of his mind once he began preparing to bat again\u2014every time he picked up the bat, he could feel it. He explained that he had been in close contact with medical staff, especially physio Bayzid and Sunny, who worked to manage his return. Hridoy also shared that conversations with the team\u2019s support staff left a mark on him; he recalled how Bayzid used to mention that even Sachin Tendulkar had wanted to step away from cricket at one stage due to the discomfort caused by this kind of injury, which left him unsettled. Because of those realities, he started treatment earlier than planned, but that meant he also had to face a major obstacle: he wasn\u2019t able to bat during part of the recovery. He stressed that his comfort comes from being able to play the way he wants to play, and that the international environment makes rehabilitation and preparation feel different compared to domestic cricket.<\/p>\n
Hridoy then described his method of building rhythm through practice, saying he is accustomed to spending long hours in the nets dating back to his early years. If he begins a drill or a routine and doesn\u2019t feel satisfied with the outcome, he continues until he reaches a level he is content with. For him, that persistence is tied to having control over his own process\u2014he believes every player has areas to improve, and his focus is on developing himself consistently and moving forward step by step.<\/p>\n
When asked about the pressure of shifting roles as the batting order changes frequently in ODIs, he played down the idea of \u201cpressure\u201d as a personal burden. Instead, he said every batter faces that adjustment at some point. He acknowledged it can be difficult when a player who has been used to one position suddenly has to bat somewhere else, but he framed it as a professional responsibility. Hridoy added that the team assigns roles after discussions, and the key is to respond to that decision. If he is promoted up the order, he will aim to score big runs; if he is asked to bat lower, he will do his best to serve the team in that situation.<\/p>\n
On his preferred ODI spot, he said that since childhood he has generally batted at number four. Still, he made it clear that the team\u2019s requirements come first. If the team believes he should occupy a certain position, he is willing to accept it because they understand the match situation better.<\/p>\n
Discussing his leg-side dominance, Hridoy said that improvement is a constant for everyone. He noted that no one in professional cricket is perfectly \u201cright\u201d all the time, and that every day offers a chance to refine skills and move to a higher level. For him, the goal is to keep progressing as a batter and to see himself in a stronger position in the future, not only by maintaining form but by constantly working on development.<\/p>\n
He also addressed how he handles criticism, saying it isn\u2019t something he can control\u2014whether people choose to talk positively or negatively about him. His view is that when others focus on the negatives, it is often because they expect him to perform. He tries to take that expectation constructively, especially when he feels he hasn\u2019t done what he should; in those moments, he reflects on how he can improve and what adjustments are needed to do better next time.<\/p>\n
Asked whether negative comments affect his game, Hridoy said that a batter\u2019s strengths and go-to shots should guide their planning. He argued that if criticism about technique or ability occupies the mind, it can restrict the shots a player wants to play. However, he also pointed out that getting out while attempting a favourite shot doesn\u2019t mean it will fail every time, and that success in T20 cricket comes from playing shots, not avoiding them. He emphasized that scoring runs involves accepting some risk, so the challenge is to grow and aim to bat in the safest possible way without losing the ability to attack.<\/p>\n
Hridoy was then asked about leadership dynamics ahead of the Asia Cup T20. He said he had been told he would serve as vice-captain, but that plan later changed after Litton Das was ruled out, with Jaker Ali being given the role. He responded that it was not something he could control and that the board made the decision it believed was best for the team. He added that he believes in fate and urged himself not to overthink beyond what is meant to happen\u2014if captaincy is in his future, it will come whether it is today or later.<\/p>\n
When the conversation turned to whether he would accept national team captaincy if it were offered, Hridoy refused to make promises about the future. He said no one can know what tomorrow brings, but if team management believes he is the right option, it is something he would have to consider seriously. He clarified that he was not saying he would definitely take it, but he would certainly give it thought if the opportunity emerged.<\/p>\n
Finally, Hridoy outlined his long-term plan regarding red-ball cricket, calling Test cricket the dream of every player\u2014his included. He also acknowledged that he has often been viewed primarily as a white-ball batter, but said his desire remains to earn a chance in Tests. He suggested that the availability of his batting position in the Test setup is a factor, and that selectors and management would have already considered his role. He expressed confidence that, if he performs well and everything goes smoothly, the opportunity could come.<\/p>\n
He closed by reflecting on a difficult phase in his career and how players handle such stretches. He said every cricketer experiences a bad run, even big names, but believes it is crucial to maintain a process through it. He explained that in his country, 30 runs isn\u2019t often treated as a meaningful contribution for a middle-order batter in T20 cricket, even though the context matters. For a batter coming in at number five or six, even 20 or 15 balls can be enough to make an impact\u2014he argued that 20 to 25 runs can still carry value in the format. Hridoy stressed that T20 isn\u2019t about everyone scoring fifties and hundreds; the innings should be judged by the impact it creates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Towhid Hridoy has marked a strong comeback for Bangladesh in the recent home white-ball assignment against New Zealand, a stretch that followed a tough period…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7230,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Bangladesh vs New Zealand: Towhid Hridoy IPL Form","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Towhid Hridoy\u2019s Bangladesh comeback vs New Zealand shines after a tennis-elbow layoff, with key ODI average and explosive T20 knocks.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n