Mushy explains thinking that changed his T20 batting

Mushfiqur Rahim is one of Bangladesh's most technically correct batsman, who likes to get to the line of the deliveries and play each delivery on it's merit. His posture, his batting stance all point to a technically correct batsman. All that might have added to the conundrum of Mushfiqur struggling in the game's shortest format – T20, where players are keener on playing improvised big shots instead of playing deliveries the right way.

The diminutive right hander has been lacking in runs in the game's shortest format; between the time frame of 2013 till 2017, Mushfiqur managed just one fifty. All that changed shortly before the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka as Mushfiqur revealed how he started thinking about his batting technique and T20 cricket.

The right-hander struck a career-high 66 not out at Dhaka in the home series against Sri Lanka but he showcased a real penchant for T20 destruction in the Nidahas Trophy at Sri Lanka where Bangladesh made it to the final of the three-nation tournament.

Mushfiqur blazed away with two unbeaten 72 not outs in Sri Lanka, the most remarkable of those two innings was the one on March 10 against Sr Lanka where Tigers chased down a mammoth total of 214 thanks to a blistering 35-ball 72 from Mushfiqur.

In his last seven T20 innings, the batsman managed 271 runs at an average of 67.75 with three fifties to his name – an incredible improvement in T20 fortunes given that he has an overall average of 21.08 in T20Is.

On Tuesday, Mushfiqur revealed the story of this incredible change. He insinuated that working with Nazmul Abedin Fahim regarding drills and techniques is paying dividends.

Mushfiqur Rahim raises his bat after reaching his fifty against Sri Lanka. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

"In the T20 format, you have to play big shots. And also take risks.

"I sat down with sir (Nazmul Abedin Fahim) and worked with him. There are a few drills for the right hand which can give quick progress and I worked them out with sir.

"By the blessing of the Almighty, I am very happy.  In the future if required, then I will give more time to work these things out," he added.

He also suggested that working on the right-hand drills were not only to focus on power hitting but for control. He felt that the bottom hand can also be used for shot placement. His words suggest that he recognized the fact that big shots are not all about power.

"We always think that the right-hand is for playing lofted shots or for making big strokes. The bottom hand can also be used for control. It can be used for placement instead of using the right hand for power."

"I am working on the combination of these two things," Mushfiqur revealed about how he is using the right hand-drills to maximize his T20 potential.