Imagine you have made a Test debut for India. Imagine that you also hold a world record for the best bowling figures in List A cricket. What would then be the favourite moment of your career?
Let’s end the imagination and check what Shahbaz Nadeem, who has achieved both, opts for.
“First highlight is always when you get Test cap. That is most favourite part of my career. And in domestic cricket, the figures of 8/10 that created world record,” Nadeem told CricketNext during the final leg of his career.
Nadeem holds the record for best bowling figures in a List A match – 8/10 against Rajasthan, which he bagged in the 2018-19 season.
The Jharkhand spinner retired at the end of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season. While he had an illustrious domestic career and was expected to join the elite list of Indian spinners, he played only two Tests for India over 18 months between October 2019 and February 2021.
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With 51 wickets, Nadeem was the highest wicket-taker during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, but forget the India call-up; he was not selected for the Rest of India to play the Irani Trophy either.
“I felt I should have got a chance sooner, but you also have to see if there is a place in the Indian team or not. If the guy playing in the place you are competing for is doing well, you have to wait for your turn,” Nadeem looks back at his chances for India’s debut.
The left-arm spinner was consistent in the domestic circuit and took more than 40 wickets for three seasons. However, he had to wait almost 15 years after his domestic debut to play for India. Nadeem says it would have been easier to play for India if he had been a batter.
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“It’s not necessary that you always make place in Indian team if you are doing well in domestic. It would have been easier if I was a batter or fast bowler because they are more in numbers. There will hardly be one or two left-arm spinners in the team, so it gets very difficult. A team will want one off-spinner, one leg spinner, and one left-arm spinner. So it gets difficult,” Nadeem explained.
He also made his debut in the 2019 Test series against South Africa. Because Ranchi was the venue, Nadeem was nearby and was called up after Kuldeep Yadav had injured his shoulder. However, Nadeem cherishes his debut Test.
“I bowled really well on my debut. But in the second match I played in 2021 (against England), I felt that I needed to bowl up to the mark. I bowled at 30 – 40 percent of my abilities and this was because we didn’t play red ball format for one and a half years during Covid-19.”
Despite the struggles, Nadeem prioritises the red ball format and wants current Indian spinners to focus more on the longer format instead of the lucrative T20s.
“It is important to keep playing red-ball cricket because it tests your skill, patience and everything. It helps you to know your game better, understand your weaknesses, and work on them.
“When it comes to white ball, you don’t necessarily have to turn it. You can bowl straight and if you are not giving runs, its okay. You don’t need as much skillset as you need to bowl with the red ball.”
Nadeem also specifically emphasises leg spinners and wants more from that creed in the longer format.
“The wrist spinners have a thought process to play T20 cricket because they are more successful in that format. You will see wrist spinners bowling more of googly and flippers instead of leg spin.
“Any spinner taking wickets in domestic cricket is a left-arm spinner. There will be no leg spinners in the top 10 wicket-takers of the Ranji Trophy. Rarely will you find a few off-spinners, but there are two left-arm spinners in each team. I feel there should be more leg spinners and off-spinners in domestic teams. Players like Amit Mishra have done well in all the formats, but you don’t see those kind of bowlers now.”
Seven of the top 10 wicket-takers in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season are left-arm spinners, and the other three are medium pacers. The numbers substantiate Nadeem’s area of concern.
Nadeem already has retirement plans, is not dissatisfied with his career, and wants to give youngsters a chance.
“I did whatever was in my hands, I gave my 100% and whatever I have achieved, I have got the results for my hard work. It’s not that I am dissatisfied.
“I already had a plan last year as well. Then I thought, let’s give it one more year. I felt the selectors are not going to look at me because of my age and youngsters are coming up. And I am not 22-23 that I keep waiting. I am 34. There is no point taking a place in your state team, it is better to give youngsters chance. If they play for two – three years, they will get some experience. Hence, I thought its correct time to move aside and give others a chance.”
Nadeem looks forward to being a franchise cricket freelancer and eventually ends up in a coaching role.
“I have not retired from cricket. That is the only thing I know. I will be playing T20 or T10 tournaments around the globe. And I will try to get into coaching a few years later. It is kind of a passion to share what I learn with other guys,” Nadeem signed off.
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