Definitely my best Test knock

In many ways,Tamim Iqbal is unlike most other Bangladesh cricketers. He doesnt come across as shy,either off the field or while facing up to some of the best bowlers in the world....

In many ways,Tamim Iqbal is unlike most other Bangladesh cricketers. He doesnt come across as shy,either off the field or while facing up to some of the best bowlers in the world,neither is he detached like many of his team mates.

The 20-year-old opener was fortunate to have many luxuries as he pursued his dream of becoming an international cricketer: an uncle Akram Khan who captained the country,an elder brother Nafees Iqbal whom he saw score Test centuries for Bangladesh,and a father who was wealthy enough to organise cricket tournaments in Kolkata just so that his son got the necessary exposure. To the youngsters credit,he has made the most of it.

Tamim,locals here reveal,is said to have a penchant for the good life and is as instinctive with his spending as he is with his shot selection. Not known to possess much patience at the crease,Tamim has hit all the right notes during his interactions with the media over the last month. And despite having the pressure of a 311-run deficit on his shoulders as he walked out to bat on Tuesday,he put them all into play in notching up the second-highest individual Test score by a Bangladeshi batsman and arguably the best ever at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

As it is with most other aspects in his life,Tamim insisted that his batting was based around simple and uncomplicated logic. Jamie Siddons had a huge impact. He just asked me to go out there and enjoy myself. I just played my natural game and everything just happened, he said,adding that scoring against India was always special for him. I have always believed in myself and I have now started understanding myself better.

The most interesting period of Tamims innings came just after the tea-break. Batting on 71,the left-hander hit Pragyan Ojha for two fours before launching the third ball over the mid-wicket fence. In the next over,he hit consecutive boundaries off Zaheer Khan,before attempting an innocuous hoick to the irritation of not only the bowler but even Ishant Sharma at mid-on,who ran in to exchange a few words. He said later that Siddons had passed on a few words of advice during the tea break which he didnt end up heeding. He actually told me not to rush towards the century and wait for it to come. But I went out there saw a couple of balls to hit and just went after them, he said with a chuckle. With his ward not holding back,Siddons seemed a nervous wreck on the sidelines and that didnt go unnoticed by Tamim either. When Sehwag was brought on,I told myself not to play any stupid shots,but I couldnt control myself from going after a few wide deliveries. I saw him Siddons throw his cap to the floor. I didnt make that mistake thereafter.

The 100-run landmark itself was greeted with a no-holds-barred celebration,as Tamim leapt high before punching a number of holes in the air. But the ecstasy soon turned to a different kind of emotion. I always wanted my dad to see me play Test cricket but he unfortunately passed away a couple of years before that. I dedicate this century to him.