Shahbaz Nadeem, the Indian domestic veteran is determined to win his place back in the Test team, especially for games at home. The left-arm spinner has said that breaking into the XI is challenging, as most domestic batters are excellent players of spin.
Although the 32-year old has played only two Tests, he has a credible first-class record. He has 459 wickets in 120 games at 28.61. He has taken 21 fifers and recently took five wickets in each innings against Jharkhand in a First-Class game in Guwahati.
Shahbaz Nadeem Hopeful Of Getting A Chance In The Next WTC Cycle
With India set to play most of their Tests in the World Test Championship cycle at home, the left-arm spinner hopes to get back into the team.
He said: “For a spinner, doing well in our domestic cricket is tougher than even when playing for India A because you have very good players of spin here. So If I do well here, I am hopeful, in a couple of series in the next WTC cycle, I will get my chance.”
The Bihar-born player, who debuted in October 2019, last played a Test in Chennai in February 2021 against England. Although he took four wickets in the game, Shahbaz Nadeem was expensive and did not play the remaining matches of the series.
Shahbaz Nadeem had four wickets in all but gave away 233 runs in 59 overs across two innings with an economy rate of close to 4 runs per over. And if that wasn’t enough, as a slow spin bowler, a total of nine no-balls at the Test match level is considered to be a major issue.
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem is not a part of the Indian squad that has been named for the Test series against Sri Lanka. The veteran spinner has taken 459 wickets in 120 games but still has not been given a consistent run in Test cricket.
He made his debut in 2019 and since then has played only two Test matches. Shahbaz Nadeem played his last Test against England in 2021. He has picked 8 wickets(4 in both Tests against South Africa-2019 and England-2021)
Shahbaz Nadeem: One Have To Be Tough And Consistent In Playing For National Team
The 32-year old also acknowledged the intense competition for places in the team. Shahbaz Nadeem believes consistent performances and mental toughness is the only way to survive and thrive.
He added: “The competition will always be there. The only thing I can do is keep performing and banging the door. That is the only thing that drives me. There are lakhs of players in India, and to be in the top-20, you have to be mentally tough.”
“To play for the national team and be there consistently, you have to do well in whatever matches you get. You can only worry about what is in your hands, which is performing well in domestic cricket.”
India is set to lock horns against Sri Lanka in a two-Test series that starts on March 4. The spinners in the squad are Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Saurabh Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was recalled to the Test squad after making his way into the white-ball team.