Image Source : TWITTER/@BCCIDOMESTIC Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen
Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen would not have sat out on the arduous journey to emulate the Mohammed Azharuddin of Hyderabad, if not for a cricket-crazy elder brother and a die-hard fan of the previous India captain.
From his identify to his profession possibility, every thing to do with Azharuddeen was determined by Kamaruddeen. The journey continues, although.
While step one in direction of fulfilling his household’s dream was taken when he was chosen to characterize Kerala in 2015, he shot into the nationwide limelight just lately together with his 37-ball 100 within the home T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in opposition to Mumbai.
“I have met him like twice or thrice. Once in my hometown and once in Hyderabad when we were there to play Ranji Trophy and he was the head coach of Hyderabad. I shared the story of how I was named after him with Mohd Azharuddin sir,” Azharuddeen instructed PTI.
“To be frank, like my elder brother, I did not follow Azharuddin sir. I have just watched a few videos of his on Youtube,” the Kerala stumper added.
The 26-year-old from Thalangara in north Kerala’s Kasaragod city, identified for its love for cricket slightly than soccer, stated the blistering knock would have absolutely happy his brother Kamaruddeen, who had modified his youngest brother’s identify from Ajmal to Azharuddeen after his delivery.
Azharuddeen has seven brothers and all are big-time cricket followers.
“My family is a cricket family. I have seven elder brothers. Everyone has played cricket. Obviously they follow the game when I play. Even if they don’t watch, they used to follow the scorecard,” he added.
About his memorable knock in opposition to Mumbai, which was the third quickest T20 ton by an Indian batsman, Azharuddeen stated he had not made any particular preparation previous to that.
The participant’s sport was affected after he was dropped down within the batting order by former coach Dav Whatmore.
“I’m an opener. After Dav Whatmore got here as coach he made me a middle-order participant. I got here down the order resulting from group necessities. It was not slot for me. I simply requested the coach (Tinu Yohannan) to permit me to bat in the proper slot, which is opening.
“I like to hit straight. One of my strengths is hitting straight. I am good at hitting straight, against fast bowling and spin bowling. It was a true wicket (in the game against Mumbai) and I batted with confidence,” he added.
Asked if he was trying ahead to the IPL public sale scheduled subsequent month, Azharuddeen stated he was not too nervous about it.
“I am in a good zone. I am not worried about the IPL auction or something. I am just concentrating on our fourth match against Andhra,” he stated.
When requested about his targets, Azharuddeen talked about enjoying within the IPL and scoring lots of in Ranji Trophy.
“Not for this year actually. There are some goals, play IPL, score a few hundreds in Ranji trophy. I (made my) debut in 2015, I didn’t get a chance to bat in top-order. Now I am clear about how to approach my batting, clear in my mind,” Azharuddeen, a giant fan of India captain Virat Kohli and M S Dhoni, stated.
He additionally stated he appeared as much as fellow Kerala cricketer Sanju Samson.
Coach Yohannan, a former India pacer, stated making Azharuddeen open the batting gave him the liberty to specific himself.
“It was a very good display. We decided to open with him. He is a free-stroking player and likes to play shots. He had the freedom to play his game and he has expressed himself,” Yohannan stated of the keeper-batsman.
Also, he stated Azharuddeen has finished properly since age-group cricket and has come by way of the system.
“He has come through the system. Since his young days he has shown a lot of promise and was admitted to the Kerala Cricket Association Academy in Kottayam,” the coach added.
