Rajshahi Warriors vs Sylhet Titans – 26th BPL Match, Jan 16 2026

That BPL match between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans on January 16, 2026, at Mirpur? What a game! Rajshahi just scraped by, winning by 5 runs. It really showed how important smart tactics, good bowling, and some nice batting combos are in T20 cricket. This game, held at Shere Bangla National Stadium, really showed how intense BPL cricket can be, and put Ripon Mondol on display, whose all-round performance got him the Player of the Match award.

What Went Down

Sylhet Titans won the coin flip and chose to field first. You could tell the dew and the pitch were in their thinking, it usually helps with batting in Mirpur. The pitch was pretty decent for both fast bowlers and spinners. Usually, teams like to chase in BPL night games because things get easier as the night goes on, but Rajshahi Warriors proved that putting runs on the board first can work just as well. Both teams knew their score and points were important to get into the playoffs, making this a big deal.

Rajshahi’s Turn at Bat: Getting Back on track after Early Trouble

Rajshahi Warriors ended up with 147 for 8 after 20 overs. Considering the batting conditions, that was a defendable score. They had to recover from some early setbacks. Tanzid Hasan and Sahibzada Farhan didn’t last long, dropping Rajshahi to 27 for 2. But then, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim got things steady with some well-picked shots and careful play. Shanto hit 34 off 21 balls with some real oomph, and Mushfiqur Rahim added 40 off 30 balls, making sure Rajshahi bounced back.

James Neesham and Ryan Burl chipped in with some quick runs when needed. Abdul Gaffar Saqlain stayed not out with 16, which helped the lower order get the score past 145. Extras also chipped in with four runs. It all added up to a score that would be tough for Sylhet Titans to chase, especially with the pressure at the end.

Sylhet’s Chase: Almost There!

When Sylhet Titans batted, they started okay, but lost wickets early, so they were never able to get any big partnerships going. Tawfique Khan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz didn’t score much, leaving the Titans at 15 for 2 early on. Parvez Hossain Emon played steadily with 41 off 30 balls, and Mominul Haque helped out with 31 off 36 balls. But they kept losing wickets at bad times.

Ripon Mondol’s bowling really turned things around. He grabbed four important wickets, giving up 34 runs in his four overs. He got rid of Moeen Ali and Nasum Ahmed, plus he caught two balls. He really made a difference, proving that good all-around players can win tight games.

Moeen Ali tried to get things going with a quick 27 off 12 balls, but Rajshahi’s tight bowling kept them from catching up. Sylhet Titans ended up with 142 for 9, losing by 5 runs. It was a close finish that kept everyone watching.

Rajshahi’s Bowling: Everyone Doing Their Part

Rajshahi’s bowling was well spread out and smart. Ripon Mondol bowled great, and Binura Fernando backed him up with two wickets for just 20 runs. Shohidul Islam and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain kept things tight in the middle, so the Titans couldn’t get any momentum.

Md Rubel and James Neesham also got wickets at important moments, so Sylhet’s batting never really got going. They used a mixture of swing, different styles, and accurate bowling, making it hard for the Titans to hit the ball hard. Rajshahi Warriors really showed how important teamwork is when you’re defending a not-so-big score in T20 cricket.

Top Players

Ripon Mondol deserved Player of the Match for his amazing all-around game. Taking 4 wickets and holding two catches shows how good he is under pressure, which is why people consider him a rising star in Bangladesh cricket. Mushfiqur Rahim’s calm 40 in tough conditions and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s quick 34 were also key to getting a score they could defend.

For Sylhet Titans, Parvez Hossain Emon’s 41 gave them some hope, and Moeen Ali’s quick 27 showed he could explode at any point. But they needed bigger partnerships to win.

Talking Points

The game was mostly fair, but there were a couple of moments people talked about. Sylhet Titans used DRS early on for Parvez Hossain Emon, and it was an Umpire’s Call. There was some talk about where fielders were placed and whether Sylhet could have rotated the batsmen better. Also, Rajshahi Warriors using Ripon Mondol at just the right times showed how important good captaining is in T20 cricket.

The close finish and the fact that they needed 10 or more runs per over at times added extra stress, showing how little mistakes and bad fielding can change the game. People enjoyed the excitement and how competitive the game was, which is what makes the BPL so great.

What It Means for the BPL

This win puts Rajshahi Warriors in a strong place at the top of the BPL table, with 14 points from 9 games and a positive score of 0.351. It gave them important points, but it also proved they can defend scores with smart tactics and good team bowling.

Sylhet Titans’ loss shows they need to get more steady in the middle order and build better partnerships when things get tough. Guys like Parvez Hossain Emon and Moeen Ali showed they have potential, but the team needs to turn these starts into wins in the next games.

Everyone’s been talking about Ripon Mondol’s all-around performance and how he turned the game around, making him one of the most important players in the 2025/26 BPL season. The game also showed that Mushfiqur Rahim can still hold an innings together in tough spots, showing he’s still a valuable player for Rajshahi Warriors.

Game Plan

The game showed some smart plays in T20 cricket. Rajshahi Warriors knew when to bowl certain players, making sure the pressure was always on. Using Ripon Mondol in those important overs helped them break partnerships and keep the upper hand. When batting, they focused on keeping things steady in the middle overs and then picking up the pace near the end.

Sylhet Titans wanted to chase, but they lost early wickets and Rajshahi bowled very well at the end. They need to rotate the batsmen and build partnerships better when under pressure. The game also highlighted how important fielding is, with two catches from Mondol changing the game.

In Short

The match between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans was a great BPL game that had excitement, tension, and some amazing individual performances. Rajshahi Warriors won by just 5 runs, showing they can defend scores through teamwork, smart bowling, and staying calm under pressure. Ripon Mondol’s all-around brilliance and Mushfiqur Rahim’s steady batting were the key to the match.

Sylhet Titans will need to get things together and build better partnerships in the middle if they want to win in the tournament. This match will be remembered for how intense it was, how well the teams played tactically, and how small things made the difference. As the BPL 2025/26 goes on, Rajshahi Warriors are showing they could win it all, while Sylhet Titans are still in the running, but need to make some tweaks to turn close games into wins.