Mahmudul Hasan Joy has long been known as a calm and composed Test batter since making his international debut in the longer format. But this season, he showed a completely different side of his game. In the 2025 National Cricket League (NCL) T20, the 2020 U19 World Cup winner turned heads with his explosive batting. Joy piled up 323 runs in eight innings at an average of 46.14 and an impressive strike rate of 155.28, including his maiden T20 century.
In an exclusive conversation with Times of Bangladesh, Joy opened up about his transformation, training for power-hitting, and his goals ahead of the upcoming BPL.
How are you?
Alhamdulillah, fine.
You performed brilliantly in this year’s NCL T20. You scored plenty of runs, and your strike rate was also impressive. How do you evaluate your performance this time?
Personally, it was a great tournament for me, because I had never played so well in a T20 tournament before. About the strike rate part, I can say that I had a plan to play with a good strike rate this season. I had prepared really well before the NCL (T20). I worked on my power hitting. I kept thinking how to implement that on the field, and all I can say is that I am happy with how things went.
Can you tell us in detail what kind of work or practice you did to improve your power-hitting?
I did not do any specific kind of practice. I improved one or two areas which allowed me to make my range of shots better.
Can we expect to see the same “Joy” in the upcoming BPL?
In Shaa Allah, I will try to complete the BPL like I did in the NCL, by giving something good to the team, so that it can bring me opportunities in the national team in white ball cricket.
You have been regarded as a Test specialist since your debut. Are you now trying to stay more focused on T20 cricket? Are you aiming to return to the national team as a “T20 batter” instead of a “Test batter”?
Not really. The T20 tournament ended well for me. In the upcoming days, we have four-day games, and then we have the Ireland Test. I will try to play well in the four-day matches, and then do well against Ireland in Test cricket. My main objective is to perform in whichever matches and opportunities come. I just try to perform in every tournament I play.
You scored a hundred this time. Was that your favourite moment in the tournament?
Yes, it was the best moment for me, since it was the very first hundred in T20s in my career.
Chattogram did really well, but could not qualify for the final. How was the dressing room after getting eliminated?
It disappointed all of us. We were a brilliant team, and we had the ability to play in the final. We had a great combination. We performed well in the group stage, qualified as the number one team, lost both matches in the qualifiers, and got out of the tournament. Everyone in the dressing room was disappointed and sad, because we could not even play the final with such a good team.
As Mahmudul Hasan Joy looks ahead to the BPL and beyond, one thing is clear – he is ready to face every challenge ahead across formats, especially the white ball ones. And if this new version of Joy continues to shine, Bangladesh cricket might soon find “a different kind of Joy” in limited overs cricket.
