“It’s Been a Joyful Journey”: Hasan Mahmud after taking 4 scalps against India

Hasan Mahmud is an exception in a squad where players show their feelings through their clothing. Though he lacks the intensity of a pacer and doesn’t believe in too dramatic celebrations, he is quickly becoming an expert at making the ball talk.

The 24-year-old Bangladeshi bowler stole the show on the first day of the first Test match against India at this venue with a three-wicket burst in the opening session that shook a renowned batting line-up that included giants Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.

It was only his fourth Test, so one would have thought the excellent pacer would rejoice rightly, given the batters he removed. But he limited it to a couple of handshakes and high fives with his coworkers.

“There’s no actual reason why I don’t celebrate. He had stated at a press conference, “You could say that if I celebrate after taking a wicket, it will make the batter feel more upset. For that reason, I don’t celebrate.”

At the end of the day’s play here, the bowler expressed his happiness at returning players like Rohit, Kohli, and Rishabh Pant in the second session.

“I’m simply content. “Obviously, one would be happy when you take their wickets, who are the best right now,” added Mahmud, whose career has been marred by injuries.

Mahmud, an age-group product of Bangladesh, was deemed the best fast bowler to have emerged from Bangladesh by former West Indies speedster Ottis Gibson and South African pace legend Allan Donald. Mahmud was born into a farmer’s family in a village close to Chattogram.

Gibson and Donald had both served as the team’s previous coaches. Russell Domingo had also described his ball-swinging talent as “god-gifted”.

Mahmud proved why he is so highly regarded during Bangladesh’s recent historic Test series whitewash in Pakistan. On Thursday, he performed even better against a far stronger batting lineup.

“I was in my element. Thus, it’s been a lot of fun to take wickets from any batsman. So, it’s been excellent,” he said to reporters following the play for the day.

“I had a really easy strategy. I always try to bowl the ball a little bit up, seam up, and shape it out or in any time. I tried that, then.

He entered through the age group system of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, having started with Chattogram Under-16 in 2015.

Mahmud was the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh at the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018, having been selected for the team.

He was selected for the U-23 team a year later, and he played in the South Asian Games and the Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

Following his successes in the Bangladesh Premier League, the Bangladesh Cricket League, and the Dhaka Premier League, Mahmud was called up for his first T20 International against Zimbabwe in 2020. The following year, he made his One-Day International debut.

But before making his Test debut earlier this year against Sri Lanka, he had to wait four years, during which he took six wickets.

“I used to play our first-class matches at home at that time,” he replied when asked how he kept himself going. Thus, before I was called up, I used to give it my all there,” Mahmud remarked.

“Well, I’m doing great right now. That’s how I want it to stay.”

His ability to move the ball both ways is one of his bowling’s most impressive qualities.

“I’ll keep working to make as many improvements to my bowling motion as I can. However, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me,” he continued.

“I think during the day, from the morning, it was like the ball zipped on the wicket,” Mahmud stated in reference to his performance here. Eventually, the wicket steadied and the ball was approaching the bat with great pace. Nevertheless, he stated, “The fast bowler is getting the zip.”

“The wicket has greatly improved since the morning, but we were still attempting to dominate. Therefore, we’re attempting to reduce the border and runs.

“We had the momentum at one time, but it has since swung the other way. Anything is possible. We’ll attempt to work on it when we get another chance tomorrow,” he concluded.

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