Amidst the ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh, a former cricketer sheds light on an unexpected act of kindness from two legendary players. The cricketing world has recently faced quite a stir, particularly surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s departure from the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This incident coincided with the Bangladesh Cricket Board's announcement that it would not be sending its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, leading to intervention from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reassure the BCB. The backdrop of these developments is steeped in the strained bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, which have been tense since the mass protests in Bangladesh in 2024 that resulted in the ousting of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The repercussions of this political turmoil are now reverberating through the world of sports.
In the midst of this complex narrative, Rajin Saleh, a former Bangladeshi cricketer, took a moment to reflect on a pivotal experience from his career, recalling how he received invaluable support from iconic figures Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly during a challenging time. Saleh reminisced about the memorable tour of 2004 when the Indian cricket team visited Bangladesh for a series of Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs). It was a significant period not only for the matches played but also for the camaraderie he shared with two of India's greatest cricketing legends.
"During that series, I found myself struggling at the crease. I recorded two ducks in one Test match and had poor performances in the ODIs as well—scoring just 14 runs and another duck in my first two matches," Saleh admitted in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com. "Feeling utterly defeated and low in spirit, I decided to reach out to Sourav and Sachin for guidance."
He recounted knocking on Sachin’s door before the third ODI, where he was warmly welcomed by the cricketing maestro. "I opened up about my dismal form, and he responded with a smile and shared some crucial advice. He emphasized the importance of maintaining mental resilience by letting go of past performances. He said, ‘When you leave the field after getting out, forget that innings and approach the next match with a fresh mindset.’”
Sourav Ganguly joined them shortly after, attentively listening to Sachin’s words of wisdom. "Then Ganguly encouraged me by saying, ‘Play like a warrior.’ He urged me to bat with courage and fearlessness. Those motivating words truly inspired me. In the following match, I managed to score in the 80s against a formidable Indian bowling attack, including Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, and Harbhajan Singh," Saleh recalled with pride.
Reflecting on the impact these two legends had on him, Saleh stated, "Sachin is revered as the God of Cricket, and I have seen the magic he creates on the field. The atmosphere when he batted was simply electric. It was all about Sachin; it was difficult to focus on my own game while he was at the crease." Having played between 2003 and 2008, Saleh participated in 24 Tests and 43 ODIs, and currently holds a position as the national high-performance batting coach for Bangladesh cricket.
"At present, I am coaching a team in the BPL and also working with the senior national squad, alongside the high-performance setup. We certainly miss playing against India. I have fond memories of competing in the Under-19 World Cup alongside players like Kaif and Yuvraj, and I genuinely miss those intense rivalries," he expressed nostalgically.
He even reminisced about moments when he borrowed bats from Yuvraj Singh, stating, "Yuvraj has always been generous, inviting me into the dressing room to take whatever bats I needed. His kindness is something I deeply appreciate." Saleh concluded his thoughts, evoking a sense of nostalgia among fans of the game.
