In this episode of 'Free Hit', a series of exclusive video interviews with players, officials and TV pundits from the Indian Premier League, Boria Majumdar chats with Abdul Samad, Sunrisers Hyderabad player.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Abdul, it was so, so good to see you play that little cameo and so good to see you play the IPL.
00:07How was it like? Give me a sense of the experience.
00:15When the Sunrisers Hyderabad sent Abdul Samad in the other day and Anrich, Nokia and Kagiso Rabada were bowling,
00:23not many people had given him a chance.
00:26And then that launch came, that massive, towering six.
00:31And all of a sudden, yet another youngster had announced himself on the sporting stage.
00:37And what a story. Coming from where he is, from Jammu and Kashmir, he is a story of aspiration.
00:43He is a story that many people will believe will give the youth of Kashmir that much more impetus to play this sport.
00:52This is why we play, isn't it? This is the India that we celebrate with the IPL.
00:57Abdul, it was so, so good to see you play that little cameo and so good to see you play the IPL.
01:04How was it like? Give me a sense of the experience.
01:07I got the bat in the situation which I wanted to bat on and it was a part of our game plan.
01:13And I guess two overs were remaining at that point.
01:17Just Lakshman sir and Murli sir came to me and told me, just go and play your game.
01:22And I guess I missed 2-3 balls or 6 hitting deliveries. But still, not a bad start.
01:29Were you nervous when you were walking out? Were you nervous with Kane Williamson already out there?
01:34No, no. I wasn't nervous at all. But I was just looking to play my game and get my team into a good position.
01:42When that 6 actually happened, give me a sense of that.
01:46That was the announcement of Abdul Samad in the IPL stage. How was the feeling? Describe that to me.
01:52Actually, I was looking to hit the ball from the very first delivery.
01:56But when I got that shot connected, I was just looking at the ball and it's a very great feeling for me.
02:04After the match, how many messages have you received from your hometown?
02:09How many people have Whatsapped? How many people have tweeted? The whole country is celebrating you. Give me a sense.
02:15Not only after the match but before the match, I guess people back home were expecting a lot from me.
02:23And I have been receiving a lot of messages since the last month.
02:31They were sending like, yeah, you did a good start.
02:36Your captain David Warner tells me that he is also expecting you to bowl.
02:40So, are you looking forward to that challenge also? When you get the ball in your hand?
02:45Yeah, obviously. I am an all-rounder. I bowl left spin. In the previous game, I bowled really well.
02:53So, that's why I didn't get the opportunity to bowl.
02:57Tell me a little bit about the dressing room. David Warner, Murali, VVS, Laxman, Trevor, Bayliss.
03:04How is it like to spend time with these legends of the game?
03:08It's really good. I feel like it's my first year. They are very supportive and encouraging.
03:14Did you speak to people back home, family back home after the game? And how was it like?
03:18Yeah, I just called my father, my mother. They just said, it's a good start.
03:24Hope you will carry this from throughout the tournament.
03:27Abdul, tell me a little bit about Rashid also. How impressed were you? You bowled left spin.
03:32That spell by Rashid, three wickets. What a fantastic spell that was.
03:37How important is it to learn from someone like Rashid?
03:41Yeah, as we all know, he is one of the greatest left spinners. And I admire him a lot.
03:46And I have been learning a lot of things from him. And I hope when I get the opportunity to bowl, I will deliver.
03:53I will do my best.
03:55IPL is being watched by millions and millions of people in India. How do you deal with pressure?
04:03I don't feel any kind of pressure at all because all we have to do is play cricket.
04:09And we have been doing a lot of practice in the next session.
04:14Are you looking forward now to the rest of the tournament now that you have had success already?
04:18Yeah, obviously. I am really looking forward to it. And I hope I will deliver my best.
04:25Abdul Samad is a great story. He is a great story coming from where he has. He has made a difference to our game.
04:31We will continue to celebrate him as we will celebrate the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the IPL.
04:36Thank you for listening to this on Gulf News on Free Hit. Thank you very much, Abdul, for joining me.