To truly understand the magnitude of Taijul Islam’s historic moment, you need to be as close to the pitch as possible. A cushioned, air-conditioned press box won’t give you the sense of intimacy that the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s lower grandstand provides. From there, close enough to hear the bowler’s grunt and feel the tension ripple through the crowd, you realize how steep the climb has been for Taijul — and how special the peak is.
The fourth afternoon of the Dhaka Test had barely settled when Bangladesh declared their second innings shortly after lunch. Ireland began their chase with little fuss, but in the sixth over, history came calling. Taijul delivered a slightly quicker ball to Andy Balbirnie, who tried to work it towards square leg. The ball hurried onto him, struck the pad, and up went the roar — followed moments later by the umpire’s raised finger. Balbirnie reviewed instantly, but the crowd already sensed what was coming.
As the giant screen displayed three reds, confirming the lbw, the Shere Bangla faithful erupted. Taijul punched the air and ran a few steps before Mushfiqur Rahim, ever the enthusiastic celebrator, tried lifting him off the ground. Taijul, humble and composed, signaled to be put down. His celebration was understated, almost shy — and if you blinked, you might have missed the faint smile forming on his face.
With that wicket, Taijul surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. The significance of this cannot be overstated. Shakib is not only one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders but also the cricketer who shaped the nation’s modern cricketing identity. Before Shakib, it was Mohammad Rafique, the first Bangladeshi bowler to reach 100 Test wickets. That lineage — Rafique to Shakib — now rightfully includes Taijul at the top.
And yet, the man himself insists he never chased records.
“I always wanted a long career,” Taijul said. “You don’t plan to be on top of the wicket-takers’ list when you first start. But with consistency and experience, I started believing I could serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time.”
He added, with quiet firmness, that he doesn’t particularly enjoy being labeled “underrated.”
“I think it’s the media that sees me that way. For me, performance at the highest level is what matters.”
Taijul’s story has always been one of understated excellence. For years, he was Shakib’s understudy — a dependable left-arm spinner who filled in, supported, and often overshadowed opponents without drawing much attention to himself. Outside the subcontinent, he wasn’t always the first-choice spinner. He didn’t have the glamour, the fanfare, or the social-media presence that define many modern players. But he had something more valuable: reliability, discipline, and the heart to bowl long spells without complaint.
Across 11 years of Test cricket, Taijul has stepped up in ways that statistics don’t always capture. He has 17 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls, with seven of those fifers and one ten-for contributing directly to Bangladesh victories. Arguably his greatest performance came in Sylhet in 2023, when he claimed 10 for 184 in a famous 150-run win over New Zealand, dismissing Kane Williamson in both innings.
But Taijul’s contributions aren’t confined to traditional bowling days. In Bangladesh’s first day-night Test at Kolkata in 2019, he was suddenly thrust into the game as a concussion substitute for Nayeem Hasan. He responded like a seasoned pro — removing Ajinkya Rahane, taking a brilliant catch to dismiss Virat Kohli, and bravely batting despite difficult conditions. Time and again, when Bangladesh needed someone to hold the innings together or break a stubborn partnership, Taijul delivered.
When Shakib’s Test availability became irregular from 2017 onwards, Taijul quietly assumed the mantle of lead spinner. In the past five years alone, he has earned ten five-wicket hauls, proving his development into a world-class bowler in his own right. The more responsibility he received, the more consistently he performed.
Taijul speaks with genuine admiration for Shakib, crediting the all-rounder for shaping his understanding of elite cricket.
“Shakib bhai was No. 1 for a reason,” he said. “He always performed. We remember his advice, his experience.”
Away from the cricketing spotlight, Taijul remains unchanged. Those who know him speak of a quiet man with dry humor, someone who enjoys simple dinners with friends and rarely makes grand declarations. Yet his dedication to the craft, his ability to rise through difficulties, and his consistency over a decade have turned him into a role model for young Bangladeshi bowlers.
The best part? People are finally noticing. More importantly, they’re beginning to follow him.
Taijul Islam may not be the loudest, flashiest, or most talked-about cricketer, but on the strength of effort, skill, and resilience, he now stands at the summit of Bangladesh’s Test bowling history — a place he earned one wicket at a time.
