Towhid Hridoy, the Bangladesh batter, made an impressive return to cricket in the recently-concluded white-ball series against New Zealand. In the three one-dayers, he returned an average of 118, and in the two T20Is, he stroked 51* and 33 respectively. In an exclusive conversation with Cricbuzz, Hridoy opened about about his challenges, aspirations and how he deals with criticism.
@B0$
@B1$ To be very honest, it was quite tough for me mentally. I've talked with the coach about this, but mostly with our physio Bayzid bhai and with those who have worked with me. Bayzid bhai and Sunny bhai (BCB physios) have taken care of me and put in the effort to ensure my return. The pain was always at the back of my mind when I would go out to bat, every time I picked up the bat, I would feel the pain. A lot of big players have had it, and Bayzid bhai always used to say Sachin Tendulkar wanted to leave the game due to the pain from this injury and I was really upset about it. Due to this, I started my treatment before the camp and it was a big challenge for me as I wasn't able to bat. I don't feel well if I can't bat how I want to bat. The situation would have been different if it was a domestic game, but since this is international cricket, everything is different in terms of environment and preparation. It was tough.
@B2$
@B3$ I'm used to spending long hours in the nets since when I was very young. If I do something and it doesn't satisfy me, I keep doing it till I am content. It's because I have this in my control. Every person has an area to improve on, I always try to develop myself and move forward.
@B4$
@B5$ I won't say pressure, every player goes through that. Obviously it is a challenge for a player who consistently batted in one position and suddenly shifted to another. You have to take it up as a professional player. If it only happens with me then the team can answer better, I don't think it only happens with me, I'm not trying to find out the reason, because at the end of the day, it is a team game. The team has given me this role after talking to me, I am trying to serve my team in those role. If the team make me play up the order I will try to score big runs. If the team make me play down the order, I will try my best to serve my team in that role.
@B6$
@B7$ From childhood, I have always batted in one position (at number four) and if the opportunity comes along... but first priority is the team's demand and then comes my demand. If the team thinks it requires me to play in a particular position, I will agree to it as they understand it better.
@B8$
@B9$ Every person in life has an area for development where they can improve. You have it, I have it, everyone else has it. No one is 100% right in professional life. Every person has room for improvement everyday, it is the same for me, for you, the challenge is to improve oneself day by day and move up a level, as a professional player or whatever profession it is. Every person wants to see oneself in a better position in future.
@B10$
@B11$ It's not in my control if someone says something positive or negative about me. When do people talk about the negatives, obviously they want you to do well. That's how I think. I feel they expect better from me. I take it positively. Obviously, they will talk about my negatives when I am unable to do something properly. Maybe I am playing badly. Then I think to myself how I can do better.
@B12$
@B13$ The strengths you have, the shots that you play, your go-to shots, you won't be able to play them, if you have those criticisms playing in your mind, I believe everyone should work according to their strengths. When you play shots that you like, sometimes you get out playing them and sometimes you get runs from them. It doesn't mean you get dismissed playing a shot today and you won't play it tomorrow. If you don't play shots how will you get runs? To score runs you have to ultimately play shots, sometimes there will be risks playing certain shots, so it's all about developing yourself and playing as risk-free as possible.
@B14$
@B15$ What I want to say is not in my control. Yes I was informed that I am the vice-captain but later it was changed. It was the board's call and the board did what is good for the team. I always believe that what is written in my fate by Allah will happen and we should not think more than that. If I'm destined to become the captain, today or tomorrow it will happen.
@B16$
@B17$ I cannot say that. In fact we cannot say what will happen tomorrow. But if the team management thinks that way and feels that I can be a good option (as a captain), in that case there is something to think about. I am not saying that with certainty that I will take it, but I'll certainly have something to think about.
@B18$
@B19$ Playing Test cricket is the dream of every player. It's the same for me.
@B20$
@B21$ I have the desire to play Test cricket, it is the dream of every player, at the end of the day, you have to understand, the position in which I bat. It remains to be seen if that position is vacant in the Test team, this is also a point. Be it the team management or selectors, obviously they have thought about it, Inshallah if everything goes well and I perform, then the opportunity will come.
@B22$
@B23$ Every player goes through a bad phase, each and every big player goes through it, but there is a process and you have to maintain it. The thing is, let's say 30 runs in our country it is not considered a good score or an impactful knock for a middle-order batter in the T20 format. But that said, I have the backing of the team and they have said it, it should be understood that for a batter batting at number five or six, if they get 20 or 15 balls, or 10 balls... even 20-25 runs will have an impact. It is not as if everyone will score fifties and hundreds in T20. More importance should be given to the impact of an innings.
