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Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib has recalled his ODI debut against India a year ago during the Asia Cup. The 21-year-old remembered how people tried to warn him that Rohit Sharma would be too good for him and he was not yet ready to face the swashbuckling batter.
It was during the Asia Cup 2023 match in Colombo that the youngster made his first international appearance and had dismissed Rohit only off his second ball. Sakib also dismissed Tilak Varma and finished with figures of 7.5-1-32-2 as Bangladesh beat India by six runs.
Speaking ahead of the first T20I against India on Sunday (October 6), Sakib suggested that he was confident despite people warning him about Rohit and feels his best ball can get the better of any batter. As quoted by Cricbuzz, he stated:
"It was my debut match and Rohit Sharma was the opponent or there was Team India. Actually, to be honest, I didn't think of that for once. I was told that I am new, I won't be ready for Rohit Sharma. But I was sure that I will play with my strength. If I can bowl at the right places and can make the new ball swing it will put any batter in trouble.
"I thought about what strength I have and tried to utilize that in the field, I didn't think about who the opponent was. I keep one thing in mind that a good ball is a good ball for everyone."
The youngster was equally good during the T20 World Cup 2024 game against India. Despite a heavy 50-run loss, Sakib was Bangladesh's most effective bowler with figures of 4-0-32-2.
"Whenever team mates got a chance in the national team, it never came across my mind that I also need to be" - Tanzim Sakib
The Sylhet-born cricketer also revealed that he never competed with his teammates who got an opportunity before him as he wanted to enter the international arena only after being fully ready. On this, he added:
"Whenever my team mates got a chance in the national team, it never came across my mind that I also need to be in the national team. I thought that whenever I will go to the national team I have to go there after being completely ready so that they can't drop me after playing one or two matches.
"And during that time I was working a lot on myself, I was working on how to improve my skills and my plan was to go to the national team with my best version."
India and Bangladesh will lock horns in the opening T20I in Gwalior on Sunday.
