Khaleel Ahmed, a left-arm pacer for the Delhi Capitals, expressed his joy at being included in India’s extended squad for the T20 World Cup. Ahmed, who was not selected for the 15-member squad, was named as one of the traveling reserves due to his impressive performance in the ongoing IPL 2024, where he has taken 14 wickets in 12 matches so far.
Speaking on the DC Podcast, Ahmed revealed that he was confident in his abilities and his self-belief grew as the tournament progressed. “The way the past few months were going and the way the IPL started, I had the intuition that something good would happen. As the IPL matches progressed, my confidence continued to grow. I realized I was bowling well, and it has always been about moving one step ahead. Finally, when the name came, I was so happy, and it’s a step ahead for me,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed, who made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2018, has represented India in 11 ODIs and 14 T20Is, picking up 15 and 13 wickets, respectively. He last played for India in 2019.
Reflecting on his time away from the national team, Ahmed said, “2019 was a long time ago. Every day, at the back of my mind, I missed that feeling of playing for the country. Every time I used to watch India play, I used to imagine what I would have done if I was there in the team. So, every day was like a battle and these kinds of conversations were going on inside my head.”
Ahmed also revealed that he did not waste any time in returning to competitive cricket after the previous IPL season ended. He made it a priority to play in all domestic matches, regardless of the outcome.
“After the last IPL, I took only a week’s break and embarked on this journey. I made sure I played all the domestic matches. It’s tough as a fast bowler, but I made up my mind that irrespective of what happens to me, I’m going to play all the matches. I pushed myself mentally in the past year and have grown up with it. Mentally, you just have to fight for it, day, night or any time, because my life has always been about cricket. My thoughts have only been about cricket, nothing else bothers me,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed’s determination and perseverance have paid off, and he is now one step closer to representing India on the international stage once again. His inclusion in the extended squad is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he will be hoping to make the most of this opportunity.
