Since the very successful home series against Zimbabwe in February-March 2020, where he was the highest run-getter in the ODI series (311 runs @ 155.5, including his career-best 176 at Sylhet) and T20I series (119 runs, strike-rate of 141.66), the Bangladesh keeper had a bit of lean run in the limited-overs game. Post that run against the Chevrons in 2020, he has 256 runs @ 23.27 in ODIs, they could’ve looked even worse but for a century against Zimbabwe in 2021, and 208 runs @ 13 in T20Is.

This gave birth to some obvious concerns around the elegant batter who was seen as one of Bangladesh’s finest prospects when he made his debut. Some believed that it was a mental block, while the others thought that it was a result of the Covid-19 induced break.

Whatever might have been the case, it is surely a temporary blip for Liton has continued to show his rich form in the longest format, where he has more time to settle in. His overall average of 33.45 (the seventh-best for Bangladesh – for batters with minimum ten innings), while not an outstanding number in itself, stood at 24.80 at the end of 2019. Since 2020, he’s rediscovered himself in the format, averaging 49.68 in 10 Tests. Only Mushfiqur Rahim averages better than him for Bangladesh in Tests in that period.

In familiar conditions at home, Liton stood out against West Indies and Pakistan. He was the highest run-getter for Bangladesh against West Indies, getting 200 runs @ 50 in the two-Test series which Bangladesh lost 0-2. He was also the highest run-getter for his side against Pakistan, collecting 224 runs including a maiden Test hundred at Chattogram, adding 206 runs with Mushfiqur Rahim to rescue his side from 49-4. Post the century, he credited the break from the T20 format after the World Cup in helping him grow his Test game. Fine-tuning both the technical and mental aspects, he worked his way into finding more consistency in his red-ball returns.

The form translated into helping Bangladesh push to dominant positions away from home, something they’ve historically struggled with. This was seen in Mount Maunganui where he joined forces with skipper Mominul Haque to add 158 runs for the fifth wicket, which is the team’s fourth-best partnership in New Zealand. His own contribution in this innings, which helped Bangladesh take a crucial lead, was 86. Batting down the order, he’s also proved to be the man to depend on in a crisis– last year, he walked in to bat at 109-5 against Zimbabwe at Harare, and soon found his side at 132-6. He added 138 runs with Mahmudullah and was eventually dismissed for 95. The role is even more crucial going forward, with Shakib Al Hasan’s Test appearances receding.

His away average, and Liton is still growing as a player, is only 30.04 but it already lies in the top ten averages for Bangladesh batters abroad (minimum ten innings). Over the years Bangladesh has seen the emergence of a number of talented batters, but not many have been able to hold on to their Test spots.

Bangladesh’s form in the first Test, and the position they have found themselves in, shows that the team has the potential to put up formidable performances away from home. It’s a crucial phase for Bangladesh, and Liton Das can play a vital role in this transformation.