Bangladesh wicketkeeper gains key advice from MS Dhoni

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan may not have played a single game in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy. Nevertheless, Sohan’s ‘field trip’ to the United Kingdom was fruitful, as he got an opportunity to interact with several experienced players in the Bangladesh dressing room.

Nurul travelled with the Bangladeshi team as a substitute. But with Mushfiqur Rahim keeping wickets for all Bangladesh’s matches, he spent time in the dressing room, gaining some key advice from his coaches and seniors. Sohan communicated with the likes of captain Mashrafe Mortaza and vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan about important aspects of the game.

Following the conclusion of a rather successful campaign for the team, the youngster informed reporters that he learnt a few things by staying with them and that he intends to implement their suggestions in his game.

“Many things can be learnt and known from dressing room. There’s a lot to learn from Mashrafe, Shakib, Mushfiqur, Tamim and Riyad bhai. I have learnt from them about how to deal with situations when the team is in trouble,” Sohan said.

Tips from Dhoni

Prior to the India-Bangladesh warm-up match at The Oval, Sohan also met MS Dhoni, who is arguably the best wicketkeeper in the international circuit today. Nurul took the opportunity to take batting and wicketkeeping tips from the former Indian skipper.

“Usually we bat at six or seven. There aren’t many overs left while batting in these positions because we have to play strokes right from the start. Again, when there is a chance of scoring big, it is seen that the team is four or five wickets down for 30-40-50 runs. Middle-order batsmen always stay under pressure. I wanted to know from him how he deals with this pressure,” he told.

“He (Dhoni) said, ‘Play as per your potential’. If you can cover up after taking one or two balls time, take it. But it’s better not to play beyond the potential. The most important parts of keeping are to have a sharp eyesight and moving and getting up with the ball,” Nurul Hasan Sohan shared.

Bangladesh was the surprise team in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy but was beaten convincingly by India. Pakistan, however, shocked one and all by thrashing India in the final of the Champions Trophy, thus lifting the coveted piece of silverware for the first time.