Cricket News

Litton Das Criticizes KKR for Disastrous IPL 2023 Stint | Here’s What Went Wrong

Zayn Kapoor · 18/05/2026 · 3 min read

In This Article

Das Opens Up About KKR’s Lack of Support
Litton Das Shines for Bangladesh Against Pakistan
A Look Back at Bangladeshi Players in the IPL

Das Opens Up About KKR’s Lack of Support

In a recent appearance on the Char Chokka podcast, Bangladesh’s star wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das made bold statements about his former IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders. Das, who was part of the KKR squad during the 2023 season, managed to play just a single match before a family emergency cut his campaign short. Speaking candidly, the 31-year-old said, “Felt that KKR didn’t really want me. Didn’t get the support from the team as I expected.”

Das went on to detail the lack of any meaningful communication from the two-time IPL champions. “Players are usually informed before the game if they are part of the XI or not. Having already sat out two games, the franchise failed to communicate with me properly and there wasn’t any discussion either. Suddenly at 11 PM the night before a game, I was told about being part of the playing XI.” In his sole appearance for KKR, Das scored just 4 runs, a stark contrast to his international exploits.

Litton Das Shines for Bangladesh Against Pakistan

While his IPL memories are less than fond, Litton Das is currently enjoying stellar form on the international stage. During the second Test match against Pakistan in Sylhet, the Dinajpur-born cricketer smashed a magnificent century in the first innings, scoring 126 runs off 159 balls to help Bangladesh post a total of 278. He followed it up with a fluent 69 off 92 balls in the second dig, including five boundaries, before falling to Hasan Ali. At the time of writing, Bangladesh were sitting at 241/5, holding an overall lead of 287 runs, pushing for a series whitewash after their victory in Dhaka.

READ: Josh Inglis Injury Update: LSG Batter Faces Setback After IPL 2026 Debut

A Look Back at Bangladeshi Players in the IPL

Litton Das is not the first Bangladeshi cricketer to have a mixed experience in the IPL, but some have left a lasting legacy. Here is a brief history of players from Bangladesh who have graced the tournament:

Abdur Razzak (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2008): The left-arm spinner was the first Bangladeshi player to feature in the IPL.
Mashrafe Mortaza (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2009): The former Bangladesh skipper played just a single game for KKR, famously hit all around the ground by a young Rohit Sharma of the Deccan Chargers.
Shakib Al Hasan (Kolkata Knight Riders & Sunrisers Hyderabad): Arguably the most successful Bangladeshi in the IPL, Shakib was a key all-rounder in KKR’s title-winning campaign and later lifted the trophy with SRH in 2016.
Mustafizur Rahman (Sunrisers Hyderabad): The “Fizz” was instrumental in SRH’s 2016 title win with his deadly cutters and remains one of the league’s most respected foreign pacers.
Mohammad Ashraful (Mumbai Indians): The former Bangladesh captain had a brief stint with the Mumbai outfit.
Tamim Iqbal (Pune Warriors India): The explosive opener was part of the now-defunct Pune Warriors India franchise.

As Litton continues to lead the charge for Bangladesh in red-ball cricket, his comments add a fresh chapter to the complex history between Bangladeshi players and the world’s biggest T20 league, highlighting that talent alone is not always enough without the right environment.

Zayn Kapoor

Zayn Kapoor is a senior cricket correspondent for The Indian Express, acclaimed for his incisive coverage of the sport’s most electric rivalry: India versus Pakistan. An alumnus of Hindu College, University of Delhi, he began his career on the domestic circuit before quickly establishing himself as a sharp analyst and a gifted storyteller. Zayn’s work is defined by his ability to bridge two cricketing cultures; his features often explore the shared histories, mutual admiration, and occasional tensions that make India‑Pakistan contests unrivalled. He has a deep technical grasp of fast bowling and has interviewed some of the greatest pacers from both sides of the border. A recipient of the Sardar Hazara Singh Award and a regular face on television panels, Zayn brings nuance, empathy, and a historian’s eye to every piece he writes. He is also a passionate advocate for preserving cricket’s oral histories and grassroots traditions.