In the bustling cricket landscape of Chennai on September 19, Hasan Mahmud stood out in a team renowned for its passionate displays. Unlike his teammates, Mahmud refrains from overt celebrations, eschewing the typical aggression associated with pacers. Instead, he relies on his growing prowess to let his bowling speak volumes.

On the first day of the inaugural Test against India, the 24-year-old Bangladeshi bowler captured attention with a stunning three-wicket haul in the opening session. This performance unsettled India’s formidable batting lineup, which included cricket giants like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and young prodigy Shubman Gill.

Given the high-caliber batsmen he dismissed in just his fourth Test match, one might have expected Mahmud to celebrate exuberantly. However, he confined his response to a few high-fives and handshakes with his teammates. “I don’t really celebrate much. There isn’t a particular reason,” Mahmud shared during a press conference. “If I celebrate after taking a wicket, it might upset the batter even more, so I prefer to keep it low-key.”

Despite his reserved demeanor, Mahmud expressed joy at dismissing cricketing stalwarts like Kohli and Sharma, and later Rishabh Pant in the second session. “I’m just happy. Taking the wickets of the best batsmen naturally brings joy,” said Mahmud, whose career has been marred by injuries.

Originating from a farmer’s family in a village near Chattogram, Mahmud’s journey through Bangladesh’s age-group cricket system has been remarkable. Esteemed by South African pace legend Allan Donald and former West Indies speedster Ottis Gibson as Bangladesh’s best fast bowler, Mahmud has consistently showcased his talent. Both Donald and Gibson were part of Bangladesh’s coaching staff in the past, and Russell Domingo has described Mahmud’s ability to swing the ball as “god-gifted.”

Mahmud demonstrated why he is highly regarded during Bangladesh’s historic Test series sweep in Pakistan recently. He replicated this success against a superior batting lineup on Thursday. “I was in my zone. It’s always joyful to take any batsman’s wicket,” Mahmud commented after the day’s play.

His strategy is straightforward: “I keep the ball in shape and aim to bowl slightly up, keeping the seam upright and shaping the ball either way.” Mahmud’s cricketing roots trace back to 2015 when he started with Chattogram Under-16. In 2018, he was part of the Bangladesh squad for the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker for his team.

A year later, he joined the U-23 squad for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup and the South Asian Games. His performances in the Dhaka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Bangladesh Cricket League eventually earned him a T20 International call-up against Zimbabwe in 2020 and an ODI debut the following year. However, it took four years before he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, where he claimed six wickets.

Reflecting on how he maintained his form during his hiatus from international cricket, Mahmud said, “I played first-class matches at home and gave my best until I got the call-up.” Now thriving, he aims to sustain this momentum. One of his standout qualities is his ability to move the ball both ways.

“I will continue to improve my bowling movement as much as I can. I am grateful to everyone who has helped me,” he added.

Discussing his performance in Chennai, Mahmud noted, “The ball zipped off the wicket in the morning but settled as the day progressed. Despite this, fast bowlers were still getting that extra zip.” He acknowledged that while they initially dominated, conditions shifted later. “We tried to minimize runs and boundaries as the pitch improved. Tomorrow offers another chance to regain momentum,” he concluded.

Mahmud’s journey exemplifies perseverance and skill, making him a bowler to watch in international cricket.