‘Admired Sangakkara, and also liked Shakib’s batting’

Rubya Haider Jhelik was a surprise inclusion in Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup. Having never represented Bangladesh in the 50-over format and only featuring in six T20Is, she made an instant impact in their opener against Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday. On her ODI debut, the 28-year-old scored an unbeaten 54 off 77 balls, guiding the Tigresses to a commanding victory. Speaking to The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan over the phone from Guwahati on Friday, Jhelik reflected on her debut, her struggles with injuries, and Bangladesh's World Cup ambitions.

The Daily Star (DS): Congratulations on your debut innings. What did it mean to you?

Rubya Haider Jhelik (RHJ): Receiving the debut cap on such a big stage was a different kind of feeling. I was excited, but I knew I had to make it memorable by contributing to the team's victory. I didn't take any pressure, didn't overthink, and stayed focused on finishing the game.

DS: Chasing 130, what was going through your mind?

RHJ: We knew the wicket had movement, and they had two quality pacers. So, [Farzana Hoque] Pinky apu and I planned not to lose our wickets in the first 10 overs and aimed to score 30-35 runs in the Powerplay. Unfortunately, she got out, soon followed by [Sharmin Akhter] Supta apu. When their spinners came on, skipper [Nigar Sultana] Joty and I decided to target different bowlers. I told her I would take on the left-arm spinner [Nashra Sandhu], and she would go after the off-spinner [Rameen Shamim]. In two overs, we hit three boundaries each, and that's what helped us.

DS: Being a surprise inclusion, picked mostly as a backup opener and wicketkeeper-batter, did you feel pressure on such a big stage?

RHJ: If it had happened earlier, I might have felt pressure. But now I just enjoy the game a lot. I don't want any kind of negativity, and I think I've built the confidence to overcome such challenges. My focus is simply on doing my job.

DS: Bangladesh women's team haven't had many left-handed batters. Why did you choose to bat left-handed?

RHJ: When I started playing cricket, I naturally batted left-handed. I admired [Kumar] Sangakkara's batting and followed him a lot. I also like Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai's batting. He is a legend of Bangladesh cricket and I like him a lot. 

DS: Few players make their debut at 28, especially in our country. What kept you motivated to push for the national team after so long?

RHJ: I faced several injuries in different stages of my career, and that put me on the backfoot. I was selected for the 2016 T20 World Cup but missed out due to injury. During an Emerging team series in Hong Kong, I tore my ACL and couldn't play for over a year. Despite the injuries and setbacks, I always thought that I wouldn't give up and try my level best to fulfill my dream of representing the national team.

DS: What's your goal for this tournament? And how is the dressing room atmosphere after the victory?

RHJ: The dressing room environment is very positive. Everyone supports each other, regardless of performance. We are preparing match by match and not overrating opponents, so we don't feel dominated. I think we need to be calm before facing our next opponents. Inshallah, our target is to reach the semifinal. As for my personal goal, I want to keep it to myself.