The Bangladesh cricket team is going through an evolution of sorts in the shortest format, changing from a conventional line-up into a team ready for power hitting. To date in 2024, Bangladesh has established a new benchmark in contemporary T20 cricket, where it has hit more than 230 sixes in T20Is.
Big-Hitting Figures: A Giant Step Forward Since 2024
Known for a defensive batting style historically, Bangladesh has had the lowest sixes-per-innings rate (3.81) of any Full Member country between 2006-2023. Now, things have changed considerably:
Sixes per innings in 2024: 5.08
Sixes per innings in 2025: 7.73
Combined sixes in 2024-25: 238
Combined sixes in 2022-23: A mere 130
Balls per six in 2021-23: 9.5
Balls per six in 2024-25: 5.58
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This dramatic reversal is not just a statistic anomaly but a deliberate change in mind set and approach across the roster.
New Faces, New Fire: The Six Surge Captains
The comeback is led by a tough foursome:
Tanzid Hasan (24)
Parvez Hossain Emon (23)
Jaker Ali (27)
Shamim Hossain (24)
These players are not swinging blindly; they have practiced a variety of attacking shots, their fearless and aggressive ability has increased, and they have injected improvisation and confidence into the middle.
Their balls per six (15.38) is significantly greater than previous stalwarts such as Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah who recorded 32.89 balls per six.
Mindset Shift and Technical Growth Behind the Scenes
In the view of senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin, the transition is as much about freedom and role definition as it is about training and technical gains.
“These batters now feel confident enough to play their natural game. They know their roles well, and they prepare purposefully, particularly on better batting surfaces in domestic cricket,” Salahuddin said.
Former T20I captain Shahriar Nafees, currently a BCB official and BPL batting coach, attributed the transformation to generational change of heart:
“This new generation watched Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers grow up, not hearing that they must keep the ball down like we did. They’re technically sound six-hitters, not power-hitters.”
Coaching Impact: Specific Modifications to Range-Hitting
Tanzid Hasan: Through support from Nafees, Tanzid improved his range-hitting skills. He had made adjustments to his technique during the BPL, and had scores of 70 and 116 – a great endorsement if the tweaks had worked.
Jaker Ali: With Salahuddin as his coach, Jaker focused a lot on base positioning and timing, which is essential when finishing. He knows we must make the most of limited scoring runs, often 15-20 balls in a match.
Shamim Hossain: Previously famous for behind-the-wicket pictures, Shamim has opened his hitting range to the entire ground. His metamorphosis into a balanced finisher has brought depth to the Bangladesh middle order.
Smart Six-Hitting: Timing Rather Than Raw Power
One of the main takeaways from the Bangladesh camp is that six hitting is not just power. As Nafees says concisely:
“Bangladeshi batters are now getting it that timing, and not just power, is the cricketing ability needed to clear the ropes.”
This mind-set change has already improved shot selection and smart risks taken.
Where the Bangladesh Cricket Team Has Improved
Powerplay Performance:
More aggressive during the first six overs.
Increased strike-rate while driving down the ground (123.62 in 2024-25 compared to 103.83 in 2021-23).
Middle Overs:
Run-rate: 7.5 in 2024-25 compared to 6.98 in 2022-23.
Death Overs:
Run-rate: 9.73 in 2024-25 versus 8.30 previously.
Shot Efficiency:
Pull shot six conversion: From 1 in every 18 shots (2021-23) to 1 in every 4.59 shots (2024-25).
Enhanced strike-rate square of the wicket and over the head of the bowler.
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