Different approach was key to success, reveals Mithun
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||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mithun said that he is happy to have contributed in the recently-concluded T20 series against Ireland A and believe it can be a new beginning for him.
Mithun was regarded as a possible opening partner of Tamim Iqbal in the past but somehow could not prove his credibility in the international circuit and it was his match-winning knock against Ireland A in the third and final T20 that brought him back in contention for a spot in the national team. The 28-year-old last made an international appearance back in February this year.
Apart from putting up a decisive performance in the third T20, Mithun did exceptionally well in the last two one-dayers against the Ireland Wolves.
“It was great to win after making an important contribution. It was the series-deciding match, so it was very important for us to win. It would be heartbreaking to lose against them,” Mithun told reporters at the Academy upon his arrival from Ireland.
“We kept trusting ourselves. The top-order batsmen have to make runs; this was our plan. And I tried it that way.”
Mithun said that he is content that he could play as per the requirement of the team as his blazing performance in the T20 series-decider was contrasting to what he did in the Bangladesh Premier League [BPL] for champions Rangpur Riders. The right-hander was one of the top five run-getter in the BPL last year scoring 329 in 15 matches.
In the last T20 against Ireland A, where the visiting side had to score at a required rate of more than 10 runs per over, Mithun had to take the onus on himself and go for the big shots instead of performing his regular strike-rotating role. He belted seven fours and six over-boundaries on his way to a match-winning 80-run innings off 39 deliveries in the series-decider.
“The batting role doesn’t always remain the same. For example, I had opened in BPL, I batted at one down or two down as well.
“My goal was to bat till the end [in BPL]. I played in accordance with the demand of my role. [But against Ireland A] we needed 182 runs to win from 18 overs. So I had to have a different approach,” he said.
“Actually I think these qualities should be in every batsman; attacking when you have to attack, and doing whatever is needed for the team.
“Whatever we do – be it playing attackingly or defensively – we do it for the team. We have to adapt according to the team’s requirement,” he added.
Mithun revealed that his only regret was the team’s inability to clinch the one-day series that they was drawn 2-2. However, he thinks that apart from the 50-over series, the recent tour can be termed as successful.
“It wasn’t bad actually, but we could’ve done better. We should have won the one-day series. But their team was very good. Many were from the national side and were experienced. Overall, I think it was a good series,” said Mithun.
