Mumbai, Nov 20 (NationPress) Bangladesh batsman Litton Kumar Das, who achieved a remarkable century on the second day of the second Test against Ireland in Mirpur, close to Dhaka, is enjoying the advantages of modifying his batting stance, according to his childhood mentor Montu Dutta.

Litton Das (128), in conjunction with Mushfiqur Rahim, who marked his 100th Test, notched a century and propelled Bangladesh to a commanding position on the second day of the Mirpur Test, as the home team's spinners dismissed Ireland for 98 runs for 5 in response to the hosts' total of 476.

Having been mentored by Montu since his formative years at BKSP—the only sports academy in Bangladesh—Litton struggled to meet expectations in the longer format of the game over the past year.

His performance in Test cricket had raised significant concerns, managing to accumulate just 335 runs in eight matches, averaging 22.26, following his notable 138 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August 2024. During this challenging period, he sought the guidance of his childhood mentor to overcome his slump.

In an interview with Telecom Asia Sport, Montu elaborated on the specific areas they focused on during their training.

“He (Litton) faced challenges with swing and had issues against left-arm spin, so we concentrated on those aspects. The swing was particularly problematic for him. We addressed the situations where he was dismissed by left-arm spinners,” Montu conveyed to Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) on Thursday.

“His bat used to come down from above automatically. However, he mentioned to me, 'Sir, this has never occurred before. My bat is coming across too much,'” Montu remarked.

“This indicated that his bat was turning towards second slip. Upon observation, I noticed a slight twist in his waist, which can occur when someone plays cricket for an extended period. Being familiar with his style, I identified the issue quickly and told him, 'This is causing all the problems,'” he added.

“I made a minor adjustment, and there was no need for further instruction as he grasped it immediately during our discussion,” he stated.

Montu noted that Litton struggled with both pace and spin due to his open chest stance. “Playing swing and away spin can be challenging if your chest is slightly open. This is something that requires reinforcement every few months,” he explained, adding that they also worked on his head position.

“We focused on his head position because if his shoulder rotates, it will affect the head positioning. If I correct his shoulder and bat alignment, the head position will naturally align itself,” he said.

“If his head position is incorrect, and I can guide him to play with a slightly lower shoulder, he will connect better with the ball. I reminded him of these subtle adjustments, and fortunately, it paid off as he showcased his skills with a century against Ireland,” he concluded.

His impressive knock of 128, achieved from 192 balls and featuring eight boundaries and four sixes, has undoubtedly boosted his confidence. Litton Kumar Das is now eager to maintain this form and continue to experience success.