Bangladesh batter Litton Kumar Das has finally begun rediscovering his touch in Test cricket after a difficult year where his red-ball form dipped sharply. Since scoring 138 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August 2024, Litton managed just 335 runs in eight Tests at an average of 22.26, raising concerns about his consistency in the longest format.
In search of clarity and confidence, Litton returned to someone who has known his game longer than anyone else: his childhood mentor, Montu Dutta of BKSP.
Fixing Swing, Spin and an Unusual Bat Path
Litton used to have a bit of a problem playing swing,” Montu said. “He also struggled against left-arm spin, so we worked specifically in those areas.
One recurring issue was Litton’s bat coming across his body much more than before.
He himself told me, ‘Sir, this has never happened before. My bat is coming a lot across.’. It was turning towards second slip. I noticed his waist was slightly twisted, something that can happen after long years of cricket.
A small adjustment restored alignment. “I just turned it slightly and didn’t have to do anything else. He understood immediately.”
Chest, Shoulders and Head Position: The Fine Details
Montu added that Litton’s chest position was also affecting his ability to handle swing and away spin. “It’s difficult if you’re a bit open-chested. That needs reminding every few months,” he said.
Left-arm spin exposed another flaw: as Litton’s shoulder turned, his bat path and head position followed, creating gaps for bowlers to exploit.
We worked on the head position. If I fix the shoulder and the bat movement, the head comes right automatically. If the head position isn’t correct, he won’t play on top of the ball.
Results on the Field
With the corrections made and his movements rebalanced, Litton’s confidence has returned. His recent century against Ireland served as both validation and a reminder of his class. “I just reminded him of these little things,” Montu said. “Thankfully it worked well, and he showed his ability again.”
