Sodhi Praises Rishad’s Distinctive Leg-Spin

Rishad Hossain has recently emerged as one of the most talked-about figures in Bangladesh cricket, receiving regular praise for his performances. Such recognition carries added weight when it comes from an established leg-spinner, and New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi is among those who have spoken highly of him.

Sodhi, who has represented New Zealand in all three formats for over a decade, expressed his admiration for Rishad ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 International series. Speaking at a press conference at the Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, he pointed to Rishad’s success in Australia’s Big Bash League as evidence of his versatility. Sodhi stated, “Bowling so well in the Big Bash in Australia shows how versatile a leg-spinner he is.”

He went on to explain the technical aspects that set Rishad apart. According to Sodhi, many Asian leg-spinners tend to release the ball from a lower trajectory, often resulting in flatter deliveries with less flight. In contrast, Rishad—who stands at 6 feet 2 inches—operates in a more classical style. He is able to generate additional bounce by putting more force into the ball. Sodhi noted that this type of leg-spin has not been seen frequently in the region for a long time.

Rishad made his international debut in 2023 and made an immediate impact during his first year. He has so far represented Bangladesh in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. In the Big Bash League, he claimed 15 wickets, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker among spin bowlers in the competition. Although he has experience in first-class cricket, he has yet to make his debut in Test cricket.

Sodhi also revealed that he had previously connected with Rishad on Instagram and that they spoke during the Bangladesh–New Zealand ODI series. He expressed interest in seeing Rishad play Test cricket, stating that the young bowler has a promising future and the capability to succeed in the longer format. He added that quality leg-spin in Test cricket has become relatively rare in recent times, making Rishad’s potential inclusion significant.

Despite the praise, Rishad continues to work on improving his skills. He has recently been training under Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach, Mushtaq Ahmed. Addressing the media after Sodhi, the former Pakistan leg-spinner explained that their work focuses on developing variations, improving the use of the crease, and refining Rishad’s googly. Mushtaq said that the googly still requires improvement and that they are also working on tactical aspects such as angles of delivery against right-handed batters and positioning in relation to the stumps.

Rishad played the first two matches of the ODI series against New Zealand but was not included in the playing XI for the final match. Mushtaq clarified that this decision was part of a development process rather than a sign of being dropped. He explained that the team management aimed to strengthen the spin department and provide other bowlers with match opportunities.

The three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on Monday at the Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. The second match will also take place at the same venue on 29 April, while the third and final match is set to be held in Dhaka on 2 May. Bangladesh enter the series after securing a 2–1 victory in the preceding ODI series.

A summary of Rishad Hossain’s recent profile is provided below:

This reflects both his current standing and the structured efforts underway to further develop his role within Bangladesh’s bowling unit.