Bangladesh T20I Team Ready for 2026 World Cup After Ireland Win: Litton Das

Bangladesh T20I captain Litton Das has expressed strong confidence in the current squad, stating they are "almost ready" for the 2026 T20 World Cup, following a hard-fought 2-1 series victory against Ireland.

Bangladesh bounced back impressively from losing the first T20I to win the next two, sealing the series with an emphatic eight-wicket victory and 38 balls to spare in the decider. This win marks Bangladesh's fifth T20I series win this year (2025), following successful campaigns against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Netherlands, and Afghanistan. They have played a record 30 T20Is in 2025.

Litton specifically praised the team's improved fielding, noting that despite not being a traditionally "good fielding unit," they took "brilliant catches" in the series, showcasing growth and maturity. Litton attributes the team's improved performance and increased maturity to playing the most T20Is in a single year.

The captain confirmed that the year was used for extensive experimentation to find the best combination for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Examples included using all available openers in the top four and making risky changes like having Mohammad Saifuddin bowl the final over instead of the experienced Mustafizur Rahman (Fizz).

The team has relied on a consistent pool of players since the Asia Cup, and Litton stated the players' current form in the national setup is what they hope to see replicated during the upcoming BPL and then the World Cup. His main concern is injuries to the core group.

Litton acknowledged that the No. 6 position in the middle order is still "up for grabs," with Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan, and Shamim Hossain being rotated during the Ireland series. He expects the candidates to gain form in the BPL.

Litton admitted facing a "tough call" when selecting only two spinners for the XI, as Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Nasum Ahmed are all considered "match-winners." He praised the spinners for accepting the rotation decisions for the team's benefit.