IPL 2020: Abdul Samad Talks About The Advice He Got From Irfan Pathan
Updated - 14 Nov 2020, 07:06 PM
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s hard-hitting batsman, Abdul Samad reveals the details of the chat he had with Irfan Pathan during his early cricket days. Abdul Samad was one of the rising stars in the IPL 2020. He showcased his six-hitting penchant in the opportunities he got batting for SRH.
The right-hander scored 111 runs at a strike rate of 170. While SRH lost to Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2, Samad was one of the most-talked players after the game; he scored 33 from 16 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes- one each of Kagiso Rabada and Anirch Nortje.
Irfan Pathan advised me to hit, but selectively: Abdul Samad.
In a video uploaded on Sunrisers Hyderabad’s YouTube channel, Abdul Samad is seen talking about his journey. He talks about his childhood and his cricketing career so far.
Samad says that he was dropped from the Under-19 team because though he has a good strike rate, he used to throw away his wicket in trying to hit a big shot more often. The youngster then met Irfan Pathan in a camp. After Pathan observed Samad’s batting, he asked the right-hander about why he was not scoring big runs. Samad cited a lack of patience as a reason for his low scores.
In the YouTube video, Abdul Samad said, “I didn’t perform much because I used to get out, as I was trying to hit each ball for a big shot. My strike rate was good, but I could not get a lot of runs.
“After playing Under-19 one-dayers when we came back home, there was a camp set up, where Irfan bhai had come. Irfan bhai saw me batting, and he asked why I was not able to score the big runs. I told him that I lacked a little patienc.”
The former India all-rounder then told the youngster that he should hit the ball, but do it more selectively instead of trying to smack every delivery. Pathan also told that if Samad can score big runs, he could, one day be selected in the national team.
The career of the Jammu and Kashmir batsman took a turn for good after that. Samad made 76 in his Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy debut. He had a spectacular run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, post which Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him in the auctions.
Abdul Samad added, “He told me then that I should hit but a little selectively. He told me that if I look at scoring big runs, then I am capable of playing for India one day.
“After playing Under-19, I was called for Syed Mushtaq Ali trials after which I made my debut, and my journey in senior cricket began because on my debut I made 76 not out against Nagaland and picked one wicket. That was a turning point for me in my career.”
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IPL Irfan Pathan
