It was an 'Unbelievable' innings from Towhid Hridoy, says Phil Simmons

At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on November 7, 2026, Towhid Hridoy compiled an unbeaten 242 off 359 balls to rescue Bangladesh from a precarious position and claim the highest individual Test score in the nation's history. The innings featured 22 fours and 11 sixes as Bangladesh recovered from 184-7 to post 386 and secure a 30-run first-innings lead against West Indies in the second and final Test of the series.

Hridoy surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim's previous Bangladesh Test record of 219 not out, which Mushfiqur had scored against Zimbabwe in 2018. Playing only his third Test after being included in the squad following Mominul Haque's concussion injury, Hridoy raised his maiden century off 171 balls before continuing to build his innings. He became the fourth Bangladeshi batter to score a Test double century, joining Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal in that achievement. Notably, Hridoy became the first Bangladesh batter to convert a maiden hundred into a double century.

West Indies captain Jomel Warrican acknowledged the quality of Hridoy's performance despite his team's position in the match. The young batter's ability to find boundaries and construct partnerships had shifted the momentum of the Test.

"We were in the ascendancy and things were going our way, but Hridoy batted well. The way he batted was special. We have to give him credit," Warrican said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

What did West Indies captain Warrican say about Hridoy's innings?

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons praised Hridoy's maturity and decision-making throughout the innings. The young batter demonstrated exceptional game awareness, choosing when to attack and when to rotate the strike among the lower-order batsmen.

"I think it's what we asked for from players to take the opportunity and to make sure that when they get the opportunity they make use of it. And when you are out there in the middle, you are in charge and you do what is necessary for the team. And today he (Hridoy) just took charge at that point and did everything that we asked of him. “That was an outstanding innings," Simmons said.

"It's an unbelievable innings in the end even when they were out on the boundary, he was still able to find boundaries and hit sixes. Even when he started getting tired coming closer to the double hundred. But it was just an outstanding effort from him in all aspects. Understanding the game, knowing which shots to play, when to give the last three batsmen the strike, everything he did exceptionally in this innings," he added.

Hridoy's recovery of the Bangladesh innings was built on crucial partnerships with the lower order. He added 117 runs with Taijul Islam in an eighth-wicket stand and shared an 85-run partnership with Taskin Ahmed in the ninth wicket. These partnerships proved vital in transforming Bangladesh's position from 184-7 into a commanding first-innings lead. Hridoy's 11 sixes in the innings set a new Bangladesh record for the most sixes hit by any Bangladeshi batter in a Test match.