Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s status as one of the top lower-order batters in Test cricket has been further cemented by his recent exploits at number eight in the recently finished Test series against Pakistan.
Mehidy is tied with Jason Holder for eighth place in the rankings with 1041 runs scored since his debut in October 2016.
The 26-year-old’s tremendous contributions to this position have demonstrated his capacity to perform under duress, but he has more significant goals.
Mehidy wants to rise as one of the best batters in the game and become the all-around champion.
Mehidy contributed significantly to the first Test match against Pakistan, making 77 runs and teaming up with Mushfiqur Rahim for 196 runs.
Bangladesh had a big early lead, thanks to this stand. He also performed admirably under duress in the second Test, teaming up with Litton Das to contribute 165 runs after Bangladesh had crumbled to 26 for 6.
These outings demonstrated his increasing self-assurance at the plate, even in trying situations for his team.
Mehidy, though, has made it apparent that he wants to be remembered for more than just being a productive number-eight hitter.
In an interview, he said, “Batting at number eight comes with a lot of pressure.” Although he understands how important it is to contribute lower in the order, his ultimate objective is to move up in the batting lineup and provide a more significant impact.
He is dedicated to pursuing his goal of being a premier all-round player and feels that sustained good performance is necessary to achieve this goal.
Mehidy understands that when fellow all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan departs, he will have a more significant role to play.
“If a team has two all-rounders, it provides a great advantage,” Mehidy said. As his hitting has improved over the past several years, he now considers himself a more complete all-around player.
He intends to keep improving and attributes his recent batting success to perseverance and strenuous effort.
“Because I was primarily a bowler, the team gained less from my batting earlier. I feel wonderful about contributing more now,” Mehidy remarked.
When Shakib leaves the squad, he knows that his job will become even more critical, and he is eager to take on more responsibility.
Mehidy is upbeat about Bangladesh’s prospects going into their next two-match Test series against India, which is scheduled in Chennai on September 19.
Although he acknowledges India’s strength as a team, especially in their batting and bowling lineup, he is optimistic about Bangladesh’s form and preparedness in light of their victory over Pakistan.
Although India is a formidable squad, we have experience playing in India and are familiar with the pitches.
We can get good results if we concentrate on our game and don’t worry about the result,” he remarked.
Mehidy feels optimistic that Bangladesh will have a chance to win the series against India because of their present form and positive outlook.
His key priorities are still playing with assurance and putting on a solid showing since he thinks doing so will inevitably benefit the team.