"We'll give 100%": Litton Das confident ahead of T20 clash in Lankan conditions

Bangladesh tried hard in the ODI series but couldn't win against Sri Lanka. They lost the first ODI because of a big batting collapse. However, they made a strong comeback in the second match. But in the deciding game, they failed again and lost by 99 runs, giving the series to Sri Lanka.

The Tigers have also been struggling in T20Is. They lost their last two series — 2-1 to the UAE and 3-0 to Pakistan — which shows that the team lacks players who can perform well regularly. There are more concerns as even captain Litton Das is going through a poor run of form. Notably, the first match is set to be played on Thursday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

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Litton Das Ready for Fresh Start in T20Is

Speaking to the media ahead of the first T20I, Bangladesh captain Litton Das shared hope for a turnaround after recent struggles. He said the team is focusing on the new format and will give their best against a strong Sri Lankan side.

"This is a new format and a new series. We’ll try to approach it with a fresh mindset. It won’t be easy—Sri Lanka are strong at home—but we’ll give 100% and see what happens," Litton said.

Bangladesh enter this series after losing two T20I series in a row—2-1 to the UAE and 3-0 to Pakistan, both under Litton’s captaincy. Facing Sri Lanka at home is another tough test.

Litton praised Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, especially their spinners, calling them experienced and tricky. "They have mystery bowlers and good experience here. In T20s, the better team on the day wins," he added.

Focus on World Cup Prep and Player Returns

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in India and Sri Lanka, Litton sees this series as part of important preparation. "Playing in Sri Lanka will help us ahead of the World Cup. It’s always a challenge to play here, but it will be good experience," he said.

He also welcomed the return of left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. "Nasum has been with the T20 setup for a long time and can help with bat and ball. Rishad is also very important for us," Litton said.

Though Bangladesh have lost all three T20Is they’ve played at Pallekele, Litton is hopeful. He mentioned that the pitch looked balanced in the last ODI and they will assess conditions before the match.

Personally, Litton has had a tough time in ODIs, scoring only 13 runs in eight innings this year. He was dropped after the first match of the recent ODI series. "I didn’t perform well in ODIs, so I was on the bench. During that time, I focused on T20 practice, and now I want to use that preparation," he said.

The three T20Is will be played on 10, 13, and 16 July at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.