After a run of 13 innings without a fifty, Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto looked in his element in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand, breaking the drought with a half-century in the second ODI in Mirpur before following it up with a commanding fourth ODI ton in the decider in Chattogram. Across those two innings, he first showed patience under pressure and then took control with a more assertive approach. Shanto spoke about navigating that lean phase, whether stepping away from captaincy influenced his batting and more, in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi . The excerpts follow:

The Daily Star (DS): Reflecting on the New Zealand ODIs overall, how uplifting was the team’s performance and your own?

Najmul Hossain Shanto (NHS): As a team, we did well, and that’s a positive. We’ve been playing good cricket for the last three series, so it’s crucial to keep this momentum going. I think the team bonding is great right now, and everyone is trying to contribute together. On a personal level, I desperately needed these two innings. I hadn’t scored big runs in a while. So, from that perspective, I’d say it was a good series for me.

DS: Who did you turn to for guidance during that lean phase?

NHS: Actually, I had been working on my game for the last few months. I always work on my batting with Sohel [Islam] sir. I spent the last few months working with him, focusing on both technical and mental aspects. After putting in that work, I felt a bit more confident.

DS: What specific adjustments were you working through at the time?

NHS: No, it wasn’t anything major. Like I said, I was focusing more on technique. I was dealing with a technical issue -- well, I wouldn’t call it a problem, just something I was struggling with. Mentally, I am generally a positive person. Even when I wasn’t scoring runs, I feel my approach and mindset remained positive. But of course, when the runs aren’t coming, a bit of nervousness or a different feeling creeps in. However, I believe I held up well in that regard. My main focus over the last few months was really on resolving that technical aspect.

DS: Has stepping down from the captaincy affected your batting in any way?

NHS: Honestly, whether I am captain or not doesn’t matter to me at all. As long as I am scoring runs, that is what matters.

DS: You also had a few sessions with Tamim Iqbal. How did that shape your game?

NHS: Before the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League), I was working on a specific shot. I felt Tamim bhai would be the best person to consult because he played that shot very successfully throughout his career. I wanted to learn from his real-life experience and understand how he executed it. I invited him, and he beautifully explained the whole process to me. He also spent two days with me indoors, generously giving his time. I benefited a lot from that, and I’m still working on it.

DS: How disappointing was it to be retired hurt for cramps in the second ODI?

NHS: It was absolutely disappointing because I should have finished the game, which would have ensured a comfortable win. As a professional cricketer, we shouldn’t complain too much about things beyond our control. The heat was what it was. Before the series started, we had a very good fitness camp… But due to my running restrictions, I had to adapt.

DS: How mature does the pace unit look to you now?

NHS: Every single pace bowler… to operate the way they did in this heat and in these conditions shows they deserve all the credit. They played a massive role in us winning the series.

DS: You batted at number four in the last two ODIs. Looking ahead, where do you see your batting role, particularly with the World Cup approaching?

NHS: That’s a call for the coach, management, and captain to make. Personally, I always prefer batting at number three, and I’ve had success there in the past. But ultimately, I will be prepared to play wherever the team management, coach, and captain ask me to.

**Read the full interview on The Daily Star website, where Shanto also elaborates on his shot selection and tempo in the decider, adapting to challenging Chattogram conditions, and his approach to adjusting against different bowlers.