After a stellar performance in the Rising Stars Asia Cup, Ripon Mondal has also made a brilliant start in the BPL, knocking on the doors of the national team.
Before the press conference began, he was asked jokingly, “Ripon, did you get a bonus?” With a mischievous smile, he replied, “I think I’ll get a bonus… they’ll give it when I go to the dressing room…” Having won matches with career-best bowling, it’s only natural for Ripon to hope for a reward. But beyond any financial bonus, there’s a bigger prize he’s aiming for this BPL season: reaching his dream destination—the national team.
He has already shone in the crucial step just before the national team. Representing Bangladesh ‘A’ in the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Qatar last month, he finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps. With effective new-ball bowling and successive yorkers with the old ball, he earned the nickname “Yorker Machine.” He was also the most successful bowler in the Top End T20 in Australia last year.
This season, he is lighting up the BPL as well. Across the previous three seasons, he took 10 wickets in 11 matches. In his first game this season for Rajshahi Warriors against Noakhali Express on Monday, he claimed 4 wickets for just 13 runs. This wasn’t just a career-best in the BPL but also his best in T20 cricket.
Looking at his career stats, Ripon has played three international matches. However, the reality is that Bangladesh’s matches in the 2023 Asian Games, though considered international, were not with the national team. He did get a chance with the real national team once but did not feature in the series against West Indies last year.
After returning from the Rising Stars tournament last month, he told bdnews24.com that he feels ready for the national team. Following his match-winning performance in the BPL, he said, his patience for an opportunity is running out.
“The BPL is a huge stage for me. If I perform well, the opportunity (for the national team) will come. I’m just waiting for that chance. If it comes, I’ll grab it.”
Until this match, he had to wait for his chance in the Rajshahi side. In the first two games, the pace attack included Binura Fernando and Tanzim Hasan alongside Abdul Gaffar Sakline, another Rising Stars performer. Ripon got his opportunity in the third match, replacing Sakline.
The 22-year-old pacer said the team management had already given him a clear message, and he is ready for every opportunity that comes his way.
“There’s always competition for spots. I like healthy competition. The management told me I wasn’t in consideration for the first two daytime matches, but I would play the night match. I was ready for that.”
“I don’t know what will happen next. As a player, you must be ready at all times. Combinations can change, sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t think about that. When I get a chance, I think of it as my last opportunity, and I prepare accordingly.”
Following his success in the Rising Stars tournament, Ripon has carried his confidence into the BPL. That belief is driving him forward.
“Confidence is always there. Being the top wicket-taker in a tournament boosted my confidence. Starting well here has increased it further. There are more games ahead, and if I can maintain this, something good will come.”
“Today is done, that’s how I see it. In the next match, I’ll try to start fresh. My plan is to give 100 percent whenever I get an opportunity.”
