The 20-year-old left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed is a very surprise inclusion in the Indian cricket team for the upcoming 2018 Asia Cup in UAE, starting from September 15. Even Khaleel himself was surprised in the way of his maiden international call-up and that too for the tournament like Asia Cup.
Despite the Indian bowling is dominating in the world cricket, especially the big pace bowling line-up, India is still searching for a perfect left-arm pacer which can fulfil the perfect pace-bowling line-up. While the domestic left-arm pacers are not so consistent yet, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to go with the new face Khaleel Ahmed who has recently impressed in various cricket formats.
After this surprising inclusion in the Asia Cup, the young left-arm pacer told Sportstar on Sunday, “I still can’t believe that I have made it to the Indian team. That too for the Asia Cup! It is a big moment for me. Ever since I played cricket, I have been aggressive and have always wanted to do something in life. It feels great to be rewarded.”
The Rajasthan left-arm pacer impressed in the last Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2017/18), the domestic T20 tournament, where he finished as the second most wicket taking bowler (17 wickets) after another Rajasthan right-arm pacer Deepak Chahar (19 wickets).
He recently featured for India A in the several List A cricket tournaments where he picked up a total of 15 wickets in nine matches with some impressive bowling performances.
Talking about that, Khaleel said, “I got noticed only after I started performing there. It is good to see that the selectors have given me the opportunity to prove my worth.”
Khaleel Ahmed, who was a part in the 2016 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, was bought by Delhi Daredevils in 2016 IPL season and was further retained in 2017 IPL season, but didn’t make his IPL debut at those periods. However, Khaleel claimed that he learned some important things at those periods from the former Indian left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan.
Khaleel spoke on that, “With Zaheer Khan at the Delhi Daredevils (in 2016 and 2017, where Khaleel didn’t played a game), I learned how to swing the ball back in and that has actually helped me in the long run. I plan to make the most of it on the UAE wickets.
“He has always been a mentor and it was after interacting with him that I could improve my game. I want to cement my place in the team and then scale the heights like Zaheer. I know I am sounding kiddish, but that’s my aim and that’s my way of showing tribute to my mentor.”
Finally, Khaleel made his IPL debut in 2018, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but played only one game where he ended with the wicket-less.
Khaleel has admitted that Rajasthan is a difficult place in India to grow up as a cricketer but he also added that everyone must deal with it.
The young pacer said, “There have been no training sessions, the cricketing scene in the state has almost come to a halt. So, it is difficult. But you must deal with it.”
