India vs Windies | The real struggle starts now, says Shahbaz Nadeem after India call-up

Delhi Daredevils’ spinner, Shahbaz Nadeem, has been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit over the years and has also shown signs of his talent over the years in the IPL as well. Having made his first-class debut back in 2004, a call-up to the Indian national team has eluded Nadeem for long until last week when he was called up for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Windies.

And in a recent interview with Hindustan Times, the player revealed that despite feeling overjoyed with the call-up the real challenge would start now as he is aiming to cement a permanent spot in the limited-overs format. 

“The smile on my mother’s face was my biggest reward when I got the India call-up. While my father has always been very understanding and knows that there is a stiff competition for places in the national team, my mother would sometimes lose her composure and I had to make her understand that there are only 15 or 16 slots available and all the people in the team are proven performers. But you know how mothers are (smiles). My father would sometimes join me to make her understand that a lot of factors need to combine for a person to go ahead and play for the country. To be fair, every child who starts playing the game wishes to represent India. But, only some manage to fulfill their dream.

“See, I am not the first one to get an India call-up in the last couple of years. The selectors have ensured that every player who has performed at the domestic level has been given his fair opportunity. The real struggle starts now and when handed the chance, I have to perform well and cement my place in the team. There is not a minute to lose and I need to be ready to get onto the field and perform whenever given that opportunity by the captain and team management,” Nadeem said in the interview with HT.

A consistent performer for Jharkhand, Nadeem recently created history when he recorded the best figures in List A cricket after he registered figures 8/10 against Rajasthan. Despite the long wait, Nadeem insisted that he was up for the challenge that is laying ahead of him with the national side.

“Why should I feel frustrated? If every domestic performer has been given his opportunity, why would the selectors not hand me my chance? I knew that it was about waiting for the opportune moment and performing every time I stepped onto the field. When I started playing for the first time, did I know that I would come so far? I started because I loved playing the game, so even now, the idea is to enjoy myself,” he concluded.