Which Tactical Shift Could Allow Tanzid Hasan Tamim to Thrive as Bangladesh’s T20 Anchor

The fact that a player hits 21 sixes in just nine T20I innings – that’s the second-highest number of sixes of any active player from Test countries and yet is also described as someone “who gets starts but can’t finish” – that’s the exact dilemma facing Tanzid Hasan Tamim. Indeed, the raw power is there; however, it is in the high-pressure situations of the ICC tournament (the same environments in which legends are born) where the start-to-finish conversion rates have been spotty at best. With the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon and the uncertainty over Bangladesh’s top order, Tamim appears to want to rebuild. He will enter the 2026 T20 World Cup with new preparation, an exclusive batting camp provided by the BCB, improved mental preparation, and a more strategic approach to the power play and game situation.

Calculated Power: Focusing on Sensible Starts

Tamim’s numbers are well known as he hit 55 sixes in his first 20 T20i innings since January 2025, the highest of any Bangladeshi player and one of the few in the world. However, the number of sixes does not necessarily equate to winning games; rather, it is how long he can bat that will be key for Bangladesh heading into the World Cup, as they need longer innings than just explosive batting. The issue with Tamim’s earlier T20I career is that he was often boom-or-bust.

In the recent West Indies cricket series (2025), he has made 89 from 62 deliveries; this was both an aggressive and mature innings in that he batted deep in the order. This type of batting performance is the type of innings Bangladesh is missing: an innings where the opening batsman goes for boundary hits, shepherds the innings, can stabilize when the team loses early wickets, and sets up the opportunity for a late surge.

Powerplay Discipline: Learning to Use the First Six Overs

Tamim also stressed that “the camp is working a lot on how to bat well during the first 10 overs and how we can find gaps,” which may be typical media speak, but is the true tactical turning point if they are going to make an impact in the short format.

The importance of maintaining a steady power play: T20 cricket and especially the T20 World Cup are where the majority of games are won and lost by the sixth over. The best strategy to reduce the amount of damage done during those early collapses is to build a foundation for the latter overs. For example, think back to early career Chris Gayle at the 2007 T20 World Cup; he was certainly destructive, but, much of the time, he used smart placement rather than pure brute force. 

Versatility: Line-Ups Don’t Lock In Until Toss

Tamim is clearly not interested in being a traditional opening batsman. He is happy to play whatever batting position his team needs him to. His flexibility may frustrate old-school fans, but that way of thinking is reflective of how much cricket has evolved as a game. (Revised) In fact, the willingness for players to take on different roles has become one of the biggest factors in modernizing the sport of cricket.

In T20 World Cup history, there have been several teams that have had varying lineups from game to game, with little consistency in their lineup. A versatile batter who is able to bat in multiple roles provides the team with both tactical options and an opportunity for balance within the batting lineup, as well as to provide relief and a chance to absorb the pressure of losing early wickets. In the case of Bangladesh, which has yet to find a consistent top order, the versatility that Tamim brings may prove to be more beneficial than any number of hundreds he scores in practice.