Mehidy Hasan eyes No. 6 role to maximise impact in ODIs

Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan aims to settle into the No. 6 batting position after experimenting with his role through 2025, believing it offers him the best chance to make a match-winning impact.

Having batted everywhere from opener to No. 9, Mehidy feels those varied experiences have helped him identify where he contributes most effectively.

"What I always say is that I'm a player who has played in every position for Bangladesh, from opening all the way down to No. 9. I know every role and how to play in each position," Mehidy said.

"I've felt that my most impactful innings came when I batted at No. 8, batting with the bowlers. I've won many matches that way, against India, against Afghanistan," he added.

"I've realised that if I score 40, 50 or 60 runs and that brings momentum for the team to win, that's very important for me."

Mehidy believes batting at No. 6 provides the ideal balance. "If I bat at No. 6, I can bat with specialist batters as well as with the bowlers. That gives me the maximum chance to win matches," he explained.

He noted that batting higher in the order may yield personal runs but doesn't always lead to team success. "I've scored runs batting at No. 4 in many matches, but we didn't win those games. At the end of the day, as captain, winning matches is the most important thing," Mehidy stated.

"Even if I score 60 or 70 at six, that will have an impact and be very helpful for the team. I'll try to master this role even more."

Looking ahead, Mehidy emphasised the importance of 2026 as Bangladesh aim to climb the ICC ODI rankings. Currently 10th, Bangladesh are scheduled to play about 20 ODIs in 2026, after winning only three of nine bilateral matches in 2025. A return to the top eight is crucial for direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.

"If I summarise 2025, we didn't actually play many ODI matches, it was on and off," Mehidy said. "In 2026, we have a lot of matches and back-to-back series.

"Our current ranking is very important because staying in the top eight is crucial ahead of the World Cup. So 2026 is a very, very important year for me," he added.

"With more ODIs, along with Tests and T20Is, players will be able to set their mindset accordingly, especially in terms of how to play in one-day cricket," he concluded.