India vs Bangladesh: Laid-back pacer Hasan Mahmud, who ran through top order, represents their fast bowling ambitions | Cricket News

Before Hasan Mahmud boarded the flight to Rawalpindi last month, his career was at a crossroads. He had everything in his armoury – pace, accuracy, swing and was a reliable fielder too. Despite being at the forefront of Bangladesh’s fast bowling hopes, Mahmud, who had been predominantly a white-ball bowler till then, had found himself out of favour in the longest format. According to Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Mahmud’s lethargic, laid-back attitude was uncharacteric for a fast bowler.But of late, Mahmud is showing why Ottis Gibson and Allan Donald named him the best pacer to emerge from Bangladesh. After a five-fer in the last Test against Pakan, Mahmud ran through India’s top-order at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday picking up four wickets.
That attitude had been a hot topic in Bangladesh cricketing circles. In an era of celebrappeals, despite taking a maiden five-wicket haul in an ODI against Ireland at Sylhet in May 2023, Mahmud had a muted celebration. Asked about it in a press conference, his response had surprised even his teammates. “I don’t really celebrate and there’s no real reason why. You could say that if I celebrate after taking a wicket, it will make the batter feel more upset so that’s why I don’t celebrate,” he had said.

Hasan Mahmud breaks the partnership claiming the wicket of Rishabh Pant! That’s his fourth wicket and a vital breakthrough for the side. 👏🇧🇩#BCB #Cricket #INDvBAN #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/SsGC2kEQDB
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 19, 2024
Even on Thursday, as Mahmud cut India’s top order to size picking up the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in the first session, his celebrations were not over the top. In a team that wears its emotions on its sleeves, he is an exception. After troubling Rohit and Kohli with his movement, and making them edge to the waiting cordon behind the stumps, Mahmud would just indulge in a f pump and a few high-fives. It was only after removing Rishabh Pant in the third over after lunch that he winked at the batsman.
“That is not a celebration, but just a simple gesture of mine. I’m just happy. When you take their wickets who are the best right now, naturally one would be happy,” Mahmud would say at the end of the day.
For Bangladesh, though, it was definitely a big deal. Having chosen to field after winning the toss on a gloomy day, more than Taskin Ahmed and their other pace sensation Nahid Rana, it was Mahmud who made the ball talk. With a smooth, open-chested action, Mahmud’s USP lies in his wr positioning that enables the ball to move both ways. Just like Pakan’s Mohammad Asif, Mahmud uses his wr to flick the ball at the very last moment, and invariably the ball lens to him.
Return on investment
It has been the case since his age-group days. Born into a farmer’s family, Mahmud is a product of Bangladesh’s age-group system and played at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, as did Shivam Mavi and Kamalesh Nagarkotti. Like the Indian duo, he too suffered a spate of back injuries that hampered his elevation to the top level till 2020.
Once Mahmud got a look-in, he became a central figure in Bangladesh’s white-ball set-up until the end of 2023. Though he tallied wickets consently in white-ball cricket, he had to overcome his struggles with the red ball once it lost its shine.
Despite his success with the white ball, it is with the red cherry that he feels he is a better bowler. “It has a different feel in the hand. I like it in my hand. I always have a feeling that I can get a wicket with the red ball,” he had said.
And it was Bangladesh Cricket Board’s ambition to improve their fast bowling resources that induced new hope into Mahmud’s red-ball aspirations. With the board insing on National Cricket League matches being played on pitches with 6mm grass with Dukes balls, Mahmud would start flourishing, even playing a central role in Chattogram’s triumph. Now, with wickets coming with the old ball too, he would become part of Bangladesh’s pool of fast bowlers. In the second Test against Pakan, in which he picked up five wickets, three came with the old ball.
Here on Thursday, he had to rely on his strength which had impressed Donald the most. Although he had swing, it was Donald who made him aggressive up front with the new ball. And Mahmud stuck to what Donald kept telling him. “I just wanted to pitch it up and let the ball move both ways. When there is help from the pitch, you just need to stick to the basics which would trouble the batsmen,” Mahmud said.

With India getting out of jail courtesy Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Bangladesh still have a job to do. If they are to stop India running away with an early advantage on the second day, they need Mahmud, especially with the second new ball available.