After the 3-match ODI series against West Indies, Rishad Hossain has become the name on every Bangladeshi cricket fan’s lips. The 23-year-old leg-spinner was named Player of the Series after a record-breaking ODI series against the West Indies at Mirpur, where he claimed 12 wickets across three matches – the most ever by a spinner in a three-match ODI series.
His stunning 6/35 in the first ODI became the best bowling figure ever recorded by a Bangladeshi spinner in the format. Rishad fell just one wicket short of Mustafizur Rahman’s all-time record of 13 wickets in a three-match series.
Yes, the Mirpur pitch was black, slow, and friendly to spin. But even on a turning track, Rishad’s bowling caught attention for some of his variations. His ability to mix up deliveries, especially the one that bounces a bit more, and his newly developed googly, has turned him into a potential threat for batters.
Bangladeshi fans have started counting his googlies almost like milestones, even if he bowls one once in a long time.
When Rishad first entered international cricket, people noticed his height and the bounce he extracted. But under the guidance of spin coach and former Pakistan leg-spinning legend Mushtaq Ahmed, Rishad has matured rapidly. His turn, control, and confidence have all improved, and the results are showing.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rishad picked up 14 wickets in seven matches, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taking spinner alongside Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Interestingly, he wasn’t even bowling googlies then – relying mainly on his leg-breaks and accuracy.
That made people wonder: how much better could he get once he started adding more weapons to his arsenal?
Fast forward to this ODI series, and that question is starting to be answered. Rishad’s googly has arrived – and it’s already winning matches.
In the first ODI, his sixth wicket came off a perfect googly that spun away from the left-handed Jayden Seales, taking the outside edge. That ball sealed his 6/35 and his place in the record books.
In the second match, he outsmarted a well-set Keacy Carty with a faster googly that straightened just enough to trap him lbw. He ended with 3/43, bowling six googlies in total that game.
Before the third ODI, Mushtaq Ahmed said, “As a leg-spinner myself, I understand the need for variations. Rishad has been working on flippers and sliders too. Sooner or later, you’ll see them coming.”
That statement sums up Rishad’s efforts to evolve – a bowler and his master not content with early success, but determined to expand his game.
Rishad finished the series with 3/54 in the final match, taking his tally to 12 wickets and securing the Player of the Series award. His consistency and growing control over variations make him one of Bangladesh’s most exciting prospects in years in white ball cricket.
What comes next for Rishad Hossain is the big question now. With a sharper googly and some room for improvement with it still left, more variations in the works, and confidence sky-high, Bangladesh finally have found their long-term leg-spin star – one who can change games, series, and perhaps even the country’s spin-bowling legacy.
