Bengal’s Shabaz Ahmed is cock-a-hoop after he was named as a replacement player by the BCCI for the ongoing India vs South Africa T20I series. The Men in Blue have lost Axar Patel for the last two remaining T20Is due to illness, while Shahbaz is a straight like-for-like replacement. Now, a day after getting named in the squad, the left-arm spinner has set his sights on Test call-up as well.
The 31-year-old has previously represented Team India across three one-day internationals under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. So, he has that experience of being in a high-pressure dressing room. Instead of getting overawed, the recently turned 31-years old wants to play Test cricket for India. While speaking to Revsportz recently, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) player said:
“I remember I was over the moon when I first got the India call up in 2022. I enjoyed playing with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and others. I feel very proud. It’s everyone’s dream to play for India. But I hope to break into the Test team as well. Playing and helping India win Test matches would be a different feeling.“
Shahbaz Ahmed in terrific red-ball form
Under Gautam Gambhir, the emphasis has largely been on multi-skilled players. Specialist bowlers are getting excluded more often now, with more all-rounders framing the core of the Test team. Hence, if Shahbaz Ahmed gets into an amazing run and perhaps gives a great account of himself in the IPL as well, one can never rule out anything.
Shahbaz was sidelined for the majority of the domestic season last season after he got a sports hernia operation. He then endured a shoulder injury, which further dampened his morale. But now, the Bengal veteran is well and truly back. In the first leg of the Ranji Trophy, Shahbaz has been Bengal’s saviour multiple times, with both bat and ball.
Across six Ranji Trophy innings, he has accumulated 300 runs at an average of 60. His strike rate of above 75 is also impressive. Not to forget his two fifties and a century. With the ball, he already has a seven-fer and a six-fer, with his wicket-taking tally being 22.
“It (call-up) is not surprising. I always believed that if I perform well, I will play for India again,” Shahbaz. I was practicing in the morning when I received the call. I am very happy and excited to join the squad. If I get a shot at the playing XI, I’ll give my best to make the team win.”
Yes, there’s no dearth of spin all-round options for India. But Shahbaz is an exciting prospect in his own right. He knows the domestic grind, doing it season after season. Also, playing 58 IPL games also helps!
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