Najmul Hossain Shanto raised his arms even before crossing the mark. Mushfiqur Rahim had already begun celebrating. The ball had just rolled toward fine leg. Shanto was on 99, sprinting for his first run. Before the second was even complete, Mushfiqur, his partner at the other end, erupted in joy.
That moment in Galle felt bigger than just another Test hundred.
For Shanto, this was personal.
This was about form, leadership, and pressure — all converging on one pitch, in one innings.
The Bangladesh captain ended Day One of the first Test against Sri Lanka unbeaten on 136 — one of his most significant knocks in recent times. Not just because it helped rescue Bangladesh from a troubling 45 for 3, but because it came at a time when his position, both as batter and captain, had been quietly questioned.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who also brought up a century, stood with him through a 247-run partnership — Bangladesh’s second-highest fourth-wicket stand in Test history. Another 20 runs, and they’ll rewrite the record books again.
But beyond the numbers, the weight of Shanto’s century lies elsewhere.
Earlier this year, he was removed from Bangladesh’s ODI captaincy and had stepped down from T20 leadership. At one point, he was reportedly close to giving up the Test captaincy as well. The decision to retain him for the Sri Lanka series was made just days before departure, with senior board officials convincing him to continue.
Shanto had reasons to feel overlooked. Despite averaging over 50 in ODIs, he never quite received the support he deserved. Meanwhile, in Tests — where his form hadn’t been as strong — he was asked to lead.
And it showed. Before this Test, he had gone 11 straight matches without a century. His last hundred in this format came during the previous Test Championship cycle, also in the opening match, against New Zealand.
Since then, a series of starts but no conversions. In the four innings leading up to Galle, he scored 36, 40, 60, and 23 — signs of promise, but none converted into something big. This time, he stayed.
The celebration said a lot. He leapt, roared, and let it all out. Joy, relief, and a hint of frustration.
He nearly lost balance reacting to an outfield throw, stumbled, then smiled. The gesture felt raw. Maybe even a little messy. But honest.
What followed was a steady knock built on clean sweeps, confident footwork, and timing. Shanto found boundaries when needed and rotated strike with ease. His balance against spin, in particular, kept Sri Lanka’s bowlers from settling.
In contrast to Mushfiqur’s patient approach — focused heavily on singles and doubles — Shanto played the more commanding role, even lifting one over straight for six. That blend of composure and control made the stand feel unshakeable.
Now, the questions shift again.
Can Shanto reach his maiden Test double century?
He’s 136 not out today after 1st Test Day 1. Back in 2021, He scored 163 runs in the same venue. Surpassing it now would carry deeper meaning. It would be a message.
And what if Mushfiqur gets there too? He already has three double centuries. A fourth would further cement his place in history.
But even if neither convert, this partnership already matters.
Because Bangladesh came into this match with a worrying record — just two wins in their last ten across all formats. This new Test Championship cycle needed a fresh start.
Shanto, leading a team in transition, offered that.
His knock feels like a restart for him and perhaps for Bangladesh’s red-ball ambitions too.
The critics haven’t been kind. Social media has mocked him. Some of it has gone too far. Shanto hasn’t always deserved it, but he has worn it anyway.
This innings — composed, confident, and timely — won’t erase all of that. But it reshapes the conversation.
Whether or not he reaches a double century tomorrow, this Galle hundred already feels like a defining moment in his career. If Bangladesh is rebuilding, this might just be where it begins.
