21-year-old Rishad Hossain is making waves as Bangladesh's latest legspin prospect, earning praise from the national team's head coach despite facing obstacles in domestic cricket. While legspinners are rare in Bangladesh due to concerns over their costliness in limited-overs cricket, Rishad's inclusion in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka highlights a shift. Despite limited game time in domestic leagues, Rishad showcased promise in the first two T20Is, impressing with his consistency and claiming a wicket in each match.

In his debut series, Rishad demonstrated improved lengths and variations, earning commendation from his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. However, concerns linger over Rishad's lack of domestic exposure, with his captain expressing hope for more opportunities to hone his skills. Despite these challenges, Rishad has featured in ten international matches since his debut last year, coinciding with the support of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, who has long championed legspin talent in Bangladesh cricket.

Hathurusinghe's advocacy for legspin was evident in his earlier tenure when he introduced Jubair Hossain to Test cricket. Despite initial resistance from selectors and local coaches, Hathurusinghe's persistence led to Jubair's international debut, signaling a potential shift in Bangladesh's cricketing landscape. With Rishad's emergence, Hathurusinghe's support, and a growing recognition of legspin's value, Bangladesh cricket may witness a resurgence of this specialized skill set.