Liton Das didn’t get the best of starts when he had started his international career with Bangladesh national cricket team. There never was any question regarding his talent, but the implication on the field was what everyone’s biggest headache.
Liton seems to have finally found some much-needed self confidence.
Maybe it was because of his lack of confidence which did not allow him to flourish to the fullest with the bat in hand. And added reason was his inability to handle the media properly. Overall his shakiness was witnessed all over – from his on-field performance to his interaction with the press. Thus he was always at the receiving end of never ending criticism on the social media.
But things changed for the better of late, since he hit that outstanding century (121 runs off 117 balls) in the final of the Asia Cup 2018, and then got a bit unfortunate to be stumped out in a controversial manner.
Not only that the number of his haters online has seen a dramatic decline in last couple of weeks, he has also been enjoying an unprecedented fanpase all around the country. And this sudden change has brought about a big change in his character as well, as he is now more mature than ever.
Before heading to the Asia Cup, Liton had told the journalists that he was not a ‘big player’ because he could not make any big innings by then. But now the situation is totally different. Finally he struck a fabulous knock, and that also almost won Bangladesh the Asia Cup, from the grasp of the mighty Indians.
So, does Liton think himself to be a big player now? Here comes the proof of Liton’s new level of maturity. Interrupting the interviewer midway, he politely replies with a grin on his face, “I haven’t become a big player yet. But I will try my best to keep up my consistency and perform more often from now on.”
Liton is indeed very consistent in the country’s domestic circuit. His average in first-class cricket is more than 50. Same is in the List-A cricket. But until this Asia Cup, whenever he was coming to play in the international cricket, he was losing his track and nothing was going his way.
But now Liton seems to have cracked the solution he had been searching for this long. So he has also opted for his next goal as well, “Yes, this (maintaining consistency) is my next goal. I think every time I play in domestic cricket, I produce consistent performances. This was the sector I was lacking in international cricket. Now my heartiest effort will go after maintaining this consistency in international cricket.”
When things continue to go wrong and one can not reach to his desired level, he gets confused and starts doubting himself. Liton also had to go through this hellish phase of life. But one single innings can sometime’s change a batsman’s life altogether. Liton believes his such innings also arrived in the Asia Cup final.
A pressure-free Liton says, “I won’t say I have got complete confiedence. But truly I am now under less pressure than ever. And I have definitely garnered some much needed self confidence. When you do something good, you get this good feeling inside.”
