Everyone in Bangladesh could sense I might be dropped, says Litton

Litton Kumar Das had been struggling for runs for a long time, failing to overcome his slump despite his best efforts. As the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad drew closer, the wicketkeeper-batsman surely felt the pressure mounting.

However, even his stint with Dhaka Capitals in the ongoing BPL failed to yield success. By the time his bat came alive, it was already too late.

After scoring a 73 in his sixth match, Litton registered his maiden T20 century today. But just hours before his dazzling return to form, he received the news: he hadn't made the Champions Trophy squad.

One might think the disappointment of being dropped motivated his performance. However, Litton revealed that the selectors had been clear with him about his exclusion. Based on his form, even he felt that his omission was likely. Not just him, though. Litton believed everyone in Bangladesh had sensed he would miss out on a spot in the squad. He openly acknowledged that it was solely due to his poor performances.

On a day of mixed emotions, Litton's bat sparkled, producing an unbeaten 125 off just 55 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes, demolishing the Rajshahi bowlers.

Despite his remarkable innings, Litton's celebration remained understated, and he appeared downcast at the press conference. When asked if he had anticipated being dropped, he said, "As I mentioned earlier, I think everyone in Bangladesh could sense I might be dropped, thanks to the reports. So, it was expected."

Litton admitted it had been a good day, but his feelings remained unchanged even after the brilliant innings. Regarding the Champions Trophy squad, he emphasised that it was the selectors' decision, saying, "It was a great day, no doubt. My thoughts are still the same. As for the Champions Trophy, that's beyond my control. It's entirely up to the selectors. Deciding who plays and who doesn't is their prerogative."

He added, "My job is to perform here, which I hadn't been able to do for a while. That had been frustrating. My mindset before the match was the same as it is now. I always say, today is already in the past. Yes, I played a good knock for my career today, but in the next match, I'll have to start from scratch. At the back of my mind, I know I'll have to rebuild my innings again. I'll work hard and see what happens."

In Bangladesh, players often aren't given clear reasons for being dropped. However, Litton said that wasn't the case with him; the selectors explained their decision. "Yes, I was given a clear message. And it wasn't just from the selectors. The media had already reported the reasons for my exclusion. If you look at why I was dropped, it's straightforward—I didn't perform. You've reported it; it's out in the open. There's nothing to hide; it's basic stuff," Litton stated.

Litton has finally found some runs, and perhaps he could have regained form during the Champions Trophy too. What does he think about that? "It's hard to say now. I've already answered this—it's completely the selectors' decision. They felt I don't fit into the team at the moment, so I'm not there. If they see my performances and feel I fit in again, they can bring me back. But for now, my focus is entirely on the BPL. I'll try to keep improving my performances here," he replied.

To regain his place, Litton will need to perform again. But he doesn't feel the need to prove anything to anyone. "No, I don't think there's anything to prove. I don't want to prove myself to anyone. What stays at the back of my mind is how I can improve my cricket. My cricket hasn't been great in recent times. I'll try to build on today's performance. I'm not saying I'll deliver the same performance in the next match, but I'll aim for consistency," Litton said.

Being dropped after continuous play can dishearten any cricketer, and Litton is no exception. When asked if he had any message for his fans, he said, "Fans and supporters are there for everyone. Just as people love you, some will criticise you too. Fans will always be there if you're playing. But the bigger question is whether I'm playing good cricket. I feel I need to improve my cricket. If I improve and perform well, people will love me again."

"I'll keep trying. I'm not saying things will change overnight. There might have been shortcomings that prevented me from performing. I'll work on overcoming them in practice. Beyond that, I have nothing else in my hands. This doesn't just apply to me—it's the same for everyone who believes in a higher power. Your God, my God—it's the same thing. If it's meant to happen, it will happen. All we can do is try. I could practice for two months straight and still get out on the first ball. Or sometimes, I might score runs without any extraordinary effort. If it's written in my fate, it will happen," he concluded.