Abdul Samad aces mental toughness under Irfan Pathan's backing, soars to new heights

Abdul Samad

NEW DELHI: J&K seemed all set for a famous win after bowling out Ishan Kishan-led Jharkhand for 107 in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2019 match. The chase presented the perfect opportunity for batter Abdul Samad to show his pedigree. However, an unsuccessful ambitious attempt against spinner Shahbaz Nadeem proved costly, forcing him to walk back to the pavilion for just four. The J&K chase fizzled out soon after Samad's dismissal, falling short by just seven runs. "There were some harsh words I shared with Abdul. However, he is a quick learner, and an open conversation was enough to put the message across," said former J&K head coach Milap Mewada during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.

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The 24-year-old cricketer is certainly a quick learner, which reflected in the manner in which he adapted across surfaces during the recent edition of the Ranji Trophy. Samad emerged as J&K's top run-getter, accumulating 748 runs in 10 matches with a hundred and five fifties, leading his team to a historic title. The batter especially proved his calibre in the final against Karnataka, curbing his attacking instincts to ensure solidity and maintain constant pressure.'Developing mental toughness under Irfan Pathan' While Samad's maturity and composure is the talk of the town, the journey behind executing this ironclad mentality has been a long drawn-out process. The 24-year-old batter had to face brickbats when dismissed for low scores in the 2024-25 Ranji season, with J&K coach Ajay Sharma even dropping him following a rash dismissal against Mumbai. However, the 2025/26 season had to be different, which Samad astutely ensured under the guidance of ex-India cricketer Irfan Pathan. "It's all about mental toughness and handling pressure situations, a skillset which Irfan bhai has played a key role in enhancing. While the younger Abdul just loved smashing the ball, the current version knows the importance of curbing his instincts, staying on the wicket and being wise with shot selection," stated Mewada. "Irfan is like a big brother and mentor to Abdul. Whenever anything bad happens, you know you can approach your parents, which sums up their relationship. Irfan constantly guides Abdul, taking time out to provide solutions during tough times. There is now clarity regarding the mindset to excel, having seen the ups and downs," he added. Convincing reluctant selectors, Tom Moody's guidance Samad was recommended for the J&K U-19 team by Mewada and Irfan, impressing in trials that drew nearly 900 boys. The 24-year-old batter's ability to score at a quick-fire pace was enough to convince the duo about his potential. Mewada and Irfan even convinced the selectors to further pick Samad in the senior team, despite their reluctance. Former SRH head coach Tom Moody and the franchise's assistant coach Simon Helmot have also played a key role in helping the 24-year-old cricketer reach his potential, working on his game awareness. "The focus was always on staying calm and being mindful about the situation. Staying still and present in the moment is critical to achieve success. Moody would encourage and support him, working on a solution-centric approach and helping him develop a structured innings," shared Helmot.Leading from the front Interestingly, the J&K batter initially started off as an opener, switching to the middle-order after being urged by former Team India all-rounder Parvez Rasool. While Samad left Rasool disappointed with his gameplay in previous seasons, the former J&K captain is full of praise for his display in the recent campaign. "Abdul can play every shot, but was lagging a bit earlier. I used to always tell him that he hasn't been able to perform to his potential. However, Abdul took responsibility and led from the front for J&K in the recent Ranji season, believing in his capabilities," stated Rasool. With one major milestone out of the way and the high of pulling off a feat which seemed nearly impossible at one point of time, a glorious world of possibilities beckons.

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