Hridoy ready to lead the next dispensation of Bangladesh batting, says Ian Bishop
Former West Indies fast bowler and current commentator Ian Bishop has said Towhid Hridoy is “ready to lead the next dispensation of Bangladesh batting”, after the 25-year-old made 137 against South Africa in the first Test at the Wanderers on Sunday. Bishop posted the praise on X.
Bishop tied the innings to Hridoy’s unbeaten 242 against West Indies in Sylhet.
“He has shown that his double century against a very good West Indies bowling attack was indeed a reflection of his talent, temperament and skill,” he wrote.
Hridoy walked in at 22 for three on day one, with Bangladesh in early trouble. He reached his hundred off 194 balls, a steer through deep backward point off Dane Paterson, and celebrated by resting his helmet on his bat and raising both arms.
He became only the second Bangladeshi to score a Test century against South Africa, after Mahmudul Hasan Joy in Durban in 2022. It was also his first Test on South African soil, and his second hundred in successive Tests.
The 137 came after 82 in the second innings at Sylhet, so Hridoy has passed fifty in three consecutive innings. He has reached these heights in only his fourth Test, and the run has quickly reshaped how his career is judged.
His 99-run stand with Tanzid Hasan beat the 84 by Hannan Sarkar and Habibul Bashar at Potchefstroom in 2002, a Bangladesh record in South Africa. It stood for barely two hours before Hridoy and Litton Das went past it.
The Hridoy and Litton partnership became Bangladesh’s highest against South Africa, home or away, passing the 138 by Jaker Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in Mirpur in 2024. It was also Bangladesh’s first stand of 100 or more, and then 150 or more, in South Africa.
Kagiso Rabada had taken five wickets earlier in the day, and Hridoy was dismissed lbw to Marco Jansen off the last ball of day one. Bangladesh closed on 327 for six after 84 overs, with Litton unbeaten on 92 off 138 balls.
South Africa is also familiar ground for him. Last August, Hridoy made an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A there, the highest first-class score by a visiting batter in the country and the highest by any Bangladeshi in first-class cricket.