Bangladesh’s fast bowler Nahid Rana is now looking forward to the upcoming Test series in India after performing well against Pakistan. The 21-year-old, rapid of leg, claimed four wickets conceding 44 runs in the second innings of the final Test, which was played in Rawalpindi, restoring Bangladesh’s two-nil supremacy in the series.
Rana from Chapainawabganj spoke on this in a video posted by the Bangladesh Cricket on ‘X’ which was previously known as Twitter.
“Obviously we are well prepared for India series. We have started training. The more we are prepared the better we will be in execution during the matches. It is easier to say but we will see it when we actually go there,” Rana said in a video shared by Bangladesh Cricket in ‘X’, previously known as twitter.
“India are a good team but the team who performs better cricket on that day will be the better head and will win. We will see when we go there.”
Rana came into focus when during his very first test match against Sri Lanka in March; he was able to bowl at over 150 kph. This was also the case in Pakistan where he impressed most with taking early wickets including Babar Azam.
Touching upon his performance Rana said, “ I had a reason to come back to this place. Therefore, I had said I wanted to do something for my country. And it feels great to have come up to what was expected of me.”
The first Test match in India will set its foot in Chennai, a city which boasts of a bouncy pitch.
To a question about his speed, Rana said, “Pace is something you cannot always envision – it is very much more dictated by rhythm. There are times when it just comes and you find yourself doing those kind of speeds.”
Rana learnt cricket in its true sense in the year 2020 after his brother enrolled him in an academy after he completed his graduation. He debuted in first division T20 tournaments in October 2021 and shone at the very beginning taking 32 wickets the next season. Rana and Sumon khan both took more than 30 wickets in the National Cricket League 2022-23 which is seldom seen for fast bowlers in a domestic tournament.
Rana is determined not to be just another cricket player but rather to define himself. “I don’t want to be like anyone else. I want to be different and be known as Nahid Rana of Bangladesh,” he said. He also said that he would want to isolate himself from all except learning from senior players without imitating any particular bowler.
