Mother’s prayers, positive intent behind Rony’s success

Since returning to the national team after an eight-year hiatus, Rony Talukdar has hit brilliant levels as he has delivered one hard-hitting knock after another.

For long, Bangladesh searched for an opener who would go hard from the start, complementing Liton Das. In Rony, Bangladesh have seemingly found that.

In the five matches he has played against England and Ireland, the right-handed opener has scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 148.64, perfectly displaying the positive intent the Tigers have been trying to implement.

“The team management gives us a plan, we try to play accordingly. The basic plan is to stay positive so that we are able to display positive intent. The team management and dressing room try to ensure that we can play fearless cricket. That is our main job,” he told the media on Thursday.

That positive intent is suiting Rony’s game, which has forever been to attack, attack, and attack some more.

The opener said that the team management has given the freedom to do so.

“No, I don’t have that fear (of losing my place). Because the team management has given me this courage,” Rony said.

Another thing that has helped the cricketer from Narayanganj is that after such a long break, the batter has been able to let go of the fear of failure.

“I have nothing to lose. Like it was eight years ago, there has been no change in the pattern of my play. I get on the field with positive intent. The team management gave us the opportunity because of the style of my play. They saw me play in the BPL. Before the England series, they told me to do the same thing I did in the BPL,” he said.

The batter has enjoyed the opening partnership, especially because of the supreme talent of Liton.

“I think he (Liton) is currently the best batter in Bangladesh. Batting with him is very enjoyable. When you bat with him, you don’t even realise how the runs are coming. If you watch him bat, you want to keep watching. There is a lot to learn too,” he said.

Rony’s success, though, has another factor – his mother. An avid fan of the cricketer, his mother always checks in with the batter, and he does not feel at peace until talking to her before every match.

“My family loves sports because my father used to like sports. The support I got from my parents and family was brilliant. The main support came from them. My mother still prays for me, so that I don’t get injured and play well. And that the team plays well. I carry her prayers with me. She always calls me and asks me how I am doing. I talk to her before the match because without that I don’t feel at peace,” the opener said.

With the final T20I against Ireland today, Rony has another chance to shine. And with his positive intent and mother’s prayers, Rony will hope that he does, and that his run in the national team after the long hiatus continues longer.