Litton Kumar Das shared his reaction to being left out of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad: ‘It’s the selectors’ decision who they want to play or not.’
The first question at the press conference was, ‘How would you describe your day overall?’ Litton’s brief and composed response: ‘Very good.’
For those aware of the day’s events, Litton’s calm answer might come as a surprise. After all, the day wasn’t supposed to feel so ‘good’ for him.
Since the announcement of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad around 12:30 PM on Sunday, social media has been buzzing about Litton being dropped. As a result, all eyes were on the match involving Dhaka Capitals, a team enduring six consecutive losses, because Litton was playing.
And play he did! Litton turned his bat into a sword, slicing through Rajshahi’s bowlers. On the very day he was dropped from the national team, he chose to score his first T20 century.
Sometimes, cricket delivers scripts so dramatic they feel almost cinematic.
Litton didn’t just score a century; he broke records too. His 44-ball century is the fastest by a Bangladeshi in BPL history. Alongside Tanzid Hasan, he built a record-breaking 241-run partnership. Dhaka Capitals’ total of 254 runs is now a historic high in Bangladeshi cricket.
Despite losing his spot in the Champions Trophy squad, Litton was invincible on the field that night at the Sylhet International Stadium. Opening the innings, he remained unbeaten, scoring 125 off 55 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes over 20 overs.
Scoring a century in the BPL on the day he was dropped from the national team made Litton the center of attention in the post-match press conference. His presence added color to an already significant occasion.
Litton’s previous media interactions often sparked debates due to his body language, sharp answers, or seemingly indifferent tone. Many expected the batsman, who had just wreaked havoc on the field, to be equally fierce at the microphone. But the opposite happened.
The man who crushed Rajshahi’s bowlers with such ferocity appeared calm, humble, and soft-spoken in front of the media. Despite the potential for controversy, he avoided it altogether.
Litton maintained that being dropped from the Champions Trophy squad and his BPL century were unrelated.
‘My mindset hasn’t changed. Regarding the Champions Trophy, that’s not in my hands. It’s entirely the selectors’ decision who they want to play or not. My job is to perform, which I hadn’t been doing for a while. That’s what had me upset—figuring out how to deliver consistent performances.’
‘The mindset I had before the match is the same I have now. I always say that today is already in the past. I might have played a good innings today, but in the next match, I’ll start from zero again. My focus will be on rebuilding my innings and working hard. Let’s see what happens.’
Though it’s hard to directly link his omission from the ODI squad with his BPL century, social media has been abuzz with the narrative of Litton delivering a ‘response.’ Some have humorously suggested that Litton visualized the national selectors as Rajshahi’s bowlers.
However, Litton himself was clear. He believes the reasons for his exclusion were evident.
‘A clear message was given (about the reason for being dropped). Actually, not directly from the selectors… If you look into the media, you’ll find out why I wasn’t included. It’s not a secret. It’s basic stuff.’
‘They felt I didn’t fit into the team at this moment, so I’m not there. If they see my performances and think I’m fit for the team again, they might include me. But that’s entirely their decision. My focus is entirely on the BPL now. I’ll try to perform well.’
Being dropped isn’t a new experience for Litton. His ODI and T20I career has been riddled with inconsistency. This BPL century, though, marks the beginning of another chapter in his fight to reclaim a spot.
That said, Litton isn’t driven by the urge to prove himself to anyone. His only focus is on improving his game.
‘I have nothing to prove. I don’t want to prove anything to anyone. What’s always in the back of my mind is how I can improve my cricket. Over the past few days, my cricket wasn’t going well. I’ll try to ensure that today’s performance isn’t a one-off. I’ll work hard to maintain consistency.’
