“This series is everything for me” – Khaleel Ahmed on his international comeback in IND vs ZIM T20I series

India fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed has opined that the ongoing T20I series is everything for him. The left-arm seamer made his International comeback in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. 

Ahmed returned with impressive figures of 2-32 in his quota of four overs in the fourth T20I against the hosts at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Saturday. 

Khaleel accounted for Dion Myers and Clive Madande, who both had scored crucial runs in the third T20I. India was able to restrict Zimbabwe to an under-par score of 152 runs after Shubman Gill decided to bowl first and Ahmed played a key role in the same.

Ahmed has picked three wickets in three matches he has played in the series at an average of 25. 

“To be very honest, I am extremely happy with my performances because of how I have got the rhythm in my bowling and the way I have adapted to the conditions. I was also able to execute well, so I am quite happy with that,” Khaleel Ahmed said while talking to Sony Sports after India’s convincing 10-wicket win.

“This series is everything for me because when I wasn’t a part of this dressing room, I was missing it a lot. So I am delighted to be a part of this dressing room and performing for India, and that happiness is different, I cannot express it,” Khaleel added.

Ahmed is playing for India after more than four years as he last represented the country back in November 2019 against Bangladesh.

Being the senior bowler in the team, Ahmed was asked if he is performing Jasprit Bumrah’s role of leading the bowlers but the Rajasthan seamer denied the idea.

“I don’t look at it like that. We all play together, even in the IPL. All of us are equal. Yes, I consider it a responsibility because when I start the first over, the team should get a good start. So my focus is generally on that,” he replied.

“I worked a lot on my bowling when I was in the reserves in the World Cup because there was no stress of playing matches at that time. So I was working a lot on my cutters and yorkers at that time, and I am extremely happy with the way I am able to execute yorkers and the spin and rotation I am getting (on the slower ones),” Khaleel responded.

The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Sunday.