Mumbai, Nov 20 (NationPress) Bangladesh cricketer Litton Kumar Das, who achieved a remarkable century on the second day of the second Test against Ireland in Mirpur near Dhaka on Thursday, is experiencing the advantages of his revised batting position, according to his childhood mentor, Montu Dutta.

Litton Das (128), in partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim during his 100th Test match, delivered a stellar performance that positioned Bangladesh strongly on the second day of the Mirpur Test, before the home team’s spinners restricted Ireland to 98 for 5 in response to their 476.

Guided by Montu since his formative years at BKSP, the sole sports academy in the country, Litton had not met expectations in the longer format recently.

His performance in red-ball cricket became a significant concern, as he managed only 335 runs in eight Test matches, averaging 22.26, after his 138 against Pakistan in August 2024. During this period, he sought advice from his childhood mentor to overcome his ongoing slump.

While discussing with Telecom Asia Sport, Montu detailed the specific aspects they focused on during this challenging time.

“He (Litton) previously struggled with swing and left-arm spin, so we concentrated on those areas. He had challenges with the swing, which contributed to his dismissals against left-arm spin,” Montu explained to Telecom Asia Sport on Thursday.

“It became automatic for him how the bat approached the ball. He mentioned to me, 'Sir, this has never happened before. My bat is coming across too much,'” Montu noted.

“This meant his bat was inadvertently angling towards second slip. I observed his waist was slightly twisted, a common issue for players who have been in the game for long periods. Given our history, I recognized it immediately and informed him that this could be the reason behind his struggles,” he added.

Montu further remarked that Litton faced difficulties with pace and spin because his chest was somewhat open—a challenge for any batsman facing swing and away spin. He noted that these adjustments are something that need to be revisited every few months.

“We also focused on head positioning. If the shoulder turns, the head will follow. By correcting the shoulder alignment, the head position naturally aligns as well,” he explained.

“If the head position is incorrect, adjusting the shoulder can help him play over the ball better. I merely reminded him of these nuances, and thankfully, it paid off with his century against Ireland,” Montu concluded.

Litton’s impressive knock of 128 off 192 balls, featuring eight boundaries and four sixes, has significantly boosted his confidence, and he aims to maintain this form for future matches.