Mushfiqur Rahim's consistent improvement in his Test career has put him in contention to be called Bangladesh's best batter ever in the format. Just how good has this late-career surge been?
For a generation of cricket fans, Mushfiqur Rahim has been synonymous with Bangladeshi cricket, alongside the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Now nearly 38 years old, you would be forgiven for thinking his career is coming to an end. But if his form is anything to go by, 'Mushi' is not even close.
By the time he captained Bangladesh at the U19 World Cup in 2006, Mushfiqur had already played Test cricket. A knock of 88 in an U19 Test in Taunton in 2004 paved the way for his selection for the senior side's tour the following year. His excellent form continued in the tour matches, as the then 18-year-old scored 18 & 63 against Sussex, and 115 not out against Northamptonshire.
Perhaps understandably, he did not enjoy great success when thrust into the starting lineup against England, scoring 19 & 3 at Lord's. But the talent was undeniable.
Nineteen years on from his Lord's debut, Mushfiqur now stands as a cricketer of a different stature. For starters, he is nearly two decades older. He is also a man with 89 Test matches under his belt, and is his country's highest run-scorer in red-ball cricket. But ask anyone outside of Bangladesh who their greatest batter is, and chances are Mushfiqur will not be the first, or even second, name on their lips: Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal would be the first two candidates, the former one of the great all-rounders, and the latter an explosive batter who arrived at the top level ready-made. Add to this the fact that in 19 years, he has played just 89 Test matches (Bangladesh have played a total of 107 in this time period), an average of less than five per year, and it is easy to see why he flies under the radar.
His Test record, however, compares favourably to both. His run-tally, closing in on 6,000 runs, is the most for Bangladesh by a handy margin. His average, now crossing 39, is the best for his country too, with Tamim, Shakib and Mominul Haque - who may well break all national records - all averaging in the 38s.
But perhaps it's time he gets his due not just for his longevity and stature among his compatriots, but also for his ability to adapt and improve with time.
In his first 15 Test innings, spanning nearly three years, Mushfiqur made it to a double-digit score on just four occasions. His average did not touch 30 until March 2013, after his 31st Test match in which he scored 200 against Sri Lanka.
By this point, he had developed a reputation as a solid white-ball player and a gritty but not-so-good Test player. A couple of the hits so far were his 44 & 101 against India in Chattogram in January 2010, and 79 & 95 versus England at the same venue two months later. His double century was the first glimpse of Mushfiqur the 'long' batter.
He was nearly 26 years old at the time, and one could be forgiven for thinking that this was close to his peak as a Test batter. But Mushfiqur only continued to get better. By March 2017, four years later, his average had gone up by another four points, with three more centuries to his name including a knock of 159 against New Zealand in Wellington. Now almost 30, surely he wasn't going to get even better?
But he was. The following year, Mushfiqur registered his highest Test score, with an unbeaten 219 against Zimbabwe in Mirpur. He went on to score another double hundred against them three years later, at the same venue.
Mushfiqur Rahim's late-career surge is nothing short of incredible
Since 2020, the year he turned 33, he has scored 1,657 Test runs at an average of 55.2 in Test cricket. Only Kane Williamson has scored more runs at a better average in that time. In the 1,000-run club in that period, below Mushfiqur's run tally but bettering his average, are Harry Brook, Saud Shakeel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have all enjoyed record-breaking starts in Test cricket, with two of those marked out as all-format greats.
For Mushfiqur to come from where he does, play as little as he does, and yet occupy a similar space at the age he is at is a truly remarkable feat. His career graph has only gone up since he came on the scene, an astonishing trend to maintain over nearly twenty years.
In a way, Mushfiqur's career reflects the essence of his batting – it's not flashy or fancy. But his consistent improvement speaks to a willingness to grind and a relentless drive for the pursuit of excellence.
If for nothing else, he must be celebrated at least for that.
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