When Mushfiqur Rahim drove a single through mid-wicket on Day 2 of the second Test, the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, erupted. He’d done it — a century in his 100th Test. Not just any century. The 11th in history, the first for Bangladesh, and the culmination of a career that began on a humid January day in 2013 against the West Indies. The crowd didn’t just cheer. They stood. They clapped. Some wiped their eyes. Because this wasn’t just about runs. It was about legacy.
From Collapse to Calm
It didn’t start like this. On Day 1, November 19, 2025, Bangladesh’s innings looked in tatters after just 27.4 overs. Ireland’s left-arm spinner Andy McBrine had ripped through the top order like a scythe through wheat. Three wickets for 49 runs. Openers Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy — who’d smashed 171 in the first Test — gone in quick succession. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for nine, stumped by a delivery that turned like a snake. Bangladesh: 95-3. The ghosts of past collapses whispered in the stands.
Then came the calm. Mominul Haque, Bangladesh’s rock since 2013, and Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran with 99 Tests behind him, walked out together. No fireworks. Just focus. They added 107 runs for the fourth wicket. Mominul reached his 24th Test fifty, patient, disciplined. Mushfiqur? He was barely hitting boundaries. Just surviving. Two reprieves. Two dropped catches. One close lbw review. He didn’t celebrate. He just kept batting.
History at the Crease
At stumps on Day 1, he was on 99. One run from history. The stadium buzzed like a hive. The next morning, the world watched. And when he pushed a single off McBrine’s 68th ball of the innings, the scoreboard flashed: 100. The crowd noise was deafening. He raised his bat. No fist pumps. Just a quiet nod — to the pitch, to the crowd, to the 12 years of pressure, criticism, and quiet perseverance.
He joined an exclusive club. The first was England’s Colin Cowdrey in 1968. Then came legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis. Now, Mushfiqur. Only 11 players in 117 years of Test cricket have scored a century in their 100th match. He’s the first from Bangladesh. The first from a Full Member nation to do it since India’s Cheteshwar Pujara in 2021. And he did it in front of his home crowd, in the same stadium where he debuted.
The Partnership That Saved the Innings
Mominul fell for 63, bowled by McBrine in the 63rd over. But Mushfiqur wasn’t done. He found a new partner in Litton Das. The pair added 108 runs — the kind of partnership that turns panic into power. Litton, aggressive, elegant, played with the freedom of a man who knew he was building on something bigger than himself. By the time Mushfiqur was caught at slip for 100 off 187 balls — his only century in his 100th Test — Bangladesh had clawed back from 95-3 to 310-4. They finished Day 2 at 355-5, with Litton on 85* and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 18. Ireland’s bowlers, especially McBrine, were spent. 36 overs from Matthew Humphreys for just one wicket. A sign of fatigue. Of respect.
Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
This wasn’t just a personal triumph. It was a statement. Bangladesh cricket has spent years fighting for legitimacy. Critics called them inconsistent. Too emotional. Too reliant on flash. But Mushfiqur — the quiet, unassuming wicketkeeper-batsman who’s been there through every low: the 2016 World T20 heartbreak, the 2017 series whitewash, the 2020 COVID hiatus — showed what resilience looks like. He’s played 100 Tests. Only three Bangladesh players have ever played 50. He’s the face of a generation that refused to quit.
And his century? It’s a roadmap. For the 18-year-old in Sylhet watching on a phone. For the coach who once told him he’d never make it. For the nation that’s never had a Test centurion in his 100th match. He didn’t just score runs. He gave them belief.
What’s Next?
Day 3 will see Bangladesh aim for 450+. Ireland, who lost the first Test by 179 runs after Mahmudul’s 171, will need a miracle. But even if they bowl Bangladesh out for 400 and chase it down — which is unlikely — this match will be remembered for one thing: Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test century. The final act of a quiet legend.
He’s not retiring. Not yet. But this century? It’s his signature. Written in sweat, silence, and stubbornness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the only other cricketers to score a century in their 100th Test?
Only 10 players before Mushfiqur Rahim have achieved this. The first was England’s Colin Cowdrey in 1968. Others include Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, and Cheteshwar Pujara. Only five have done it since 2000, making it rarer than a Test triple-century. Mushfiqur is the 11th overall and the first from Bangladesh.
How significant is Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test for Bangladesh cricket?
He’s the first Bangladeshi to reach 100 Tests — a milestone no other player from the nation has even approached. Only three others have played 50. His longevity, consistency, and leadership under pressure have defined Bangladesh’s Test identity. This century cements him as the greatest Test player in the country’s history, surpassing even Shakib Al Hasan in terms of Test appearances and resilience.
What role did Andy McBrine play in the match?
Ireland’s left-arm spinner Andy McBrine was the standout bowler on Day 1, taking 3 wickets for 49 runs in the first session, including key dismissals of Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Najmul Hossain Shanto. His sharp turn and ability to exploit the pitch’s grip disrupted Bangladesh’s early momentum. But after the 60th over, his effectiveness waned, and he bowled 36 overs without a second wicket, highlighting Bangladesh’s recovery.
How did the partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das shift the match?
After Mominul Haque’s dismissal, Bangladesh were still vulnerable at 212-4. The 108-run fifth-wicket stand with Litton Das — who played aggressively while Mushfiqur anchored — added 90 runs in just 160 balls. Litton’s 85* at the close of play gave Bangladesh a commanding position. This partnership turned the match from a potential collapse into a dominant first-innings total, putting Ireland under immense pressure for the remainder of the game.
Is this likely to be Mushfiqur Rahim’s final Test series?
He hasn’t announced retirement, but at 36 and with Bangladesh’s next Test series against New Zealand in early 2026, it’s likely this was his final home Test. His century in his 100th match was a perfect farewell gift — not just to the crowd, but to the game. He’s already been named a national icon, and his legacy as Bangladesh’s most enduring Test player is secure.
How does this compare to other Test milestones in cricket history?
Scoring a century in your 100th Test is rarer than 100 Test appearances. Only 12 players in 117 years have done it. By contrast, over 1,200 players have reached 100 Tests. The feat requires not just longevity but peak performance under pressure. Mushfiqur’s century is especially rare because it came against a full-member team on a pitch that favored spin — not a weak opponent on a flat track. It’s the kind of milestone that echoes in history books.