Think that hopefully this is the turning point for Abdul Samad: Tom Moody

In Sunrisers Hyderabad’s last match against Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2023, youngster Abdul Samad wreaked havoc and pulled off a heist at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday, May 7. The visiting team needed five runs to win off the final delivery, but unfortunately, Samad failed to clear the ropes as Jos Buttler picked up an easy catch at long-off. However, the third umpire deemed it as a no-ball as the replay showed that pacer Sandeep Sharma had overstepped, and with four required off the last delivery, Samad hit a cracking six to help SRH register their fourth win of the season.

Following this thrilling victory, former SRH head coach Tom Moody stated that it can very well be the turning point in Abdul Samad’s cricketing journey. Notably, the 21-year-old has not got enough opportunities in the ongoing season, and his form was under the scanner as well. However, after his terrific cameo against RR, Moody mentioned that the player has enough confidence in him, and now the franchise needs to have some in him.

“What Abdul Samad has got as a young, emerging player is a rare ability to hit the ball out of the ground. He reminds me of a young Yusuf Pathan. He's got that strength, power, and it's a very hard role to play. 

“I hope that it gives the management and the franchise confidence that they have got the right person because that is the hardest part. Forget about the player having confidence, you need the organisation - wherever you are - to have confidence in you, and I think if you look at his erratic selection over the last two years, I think that hopefully, this is the turning point for him,” Moody said while talking to ESPNcricinfo.

Let me start off by saying I have to give full marks to Samad: Hemang Badani

Notably, Samad was in a similar situation against KKR. The visiting team needed nine off six deliveries, but Samad failed to take his team home. Speaking about the same, former India cricketer Hemang Badani stated that Samad came up to him after that and regretted the fact that he could not finish the game against the Knight Riders.

“Let me start off by saying I have to give full marks to Samad because he was the first one to come up to me after the previous game (against KKR) and said, 'I should have finished the game’. He took ownership of it, and said with nine off six balls, more often than not, batters in the middle would finish games for their side, and he didn't finish it and he was a little unhappy about it. He had a similar instance with the game against Mumbai (Indians); that again was a game that he felt he could have finished. And he was hurting, to be honest. He was hurting," Badani stated.