Okay so yesterday afternoon, I was just scrolling through some cricket stuff online, right? Bored, nothing much going on. Then bam, this name pops up everywhere: Abrar Ahmed. People were buzzing about his test stats being super impressive. Honestly, I didn’t know much about him lately, so I figured, why not dive in myself? See what the fuss is about.
What Started It All
My first move? Headed straight over to ESPN’s cricket section. Don’t need anything fancy, just basic stats. Searched for Abrar Ahmed. Wasn’t sure what I’d find – maybe just averages or something dull.
What I Actually Found
Man, I tell ya, my eyes kinda popped open. Started clicking through his recent matches. Focused on the last 3 tests he played.
- First match: Against England, I think. Pulled up the scorecard. Just looked at his bowling figures. This dude took like 7 wickets? In his debut? Seven! That’s insane for a new spinner. Couldn’t believe it. Kept scrolling back to check if I read it right.
- Next match: Okay, so debut was maybe a fluke? Nah. Same series, another game. Stats showed another 5-wicket haul. Seriously? Back-to-back big hauls? Now I was getting hooked. Wanted to see how he did it.
- Third match: Checked another match against a different team. Took 4 wickets in the first innings. Maybe slowing down? Then boom, another 4 in the second innings. This guy was consistently knocking over good players!
Connecting the Dots
So I started adding things up. Forget just looking at one match. His overall numbers in these few tests… man, something like over 20 wickets already? In just a couple of games? The rate was what got me. How quickly he was getting top players out. It wasn’t just numbers on a page; it was how fast he was doing damage against strong teams. Felt different from other spinners starting out.
Why It Hit Me
Here’s the thing, and this is where it got personal. I actually changed cities recently – moved from Pune down here. New job, new place. This guy, Mike in accounting? Total pain. Big “stats are everything, experience counts” guy. Annoying.
Anyway, yesterday lunch break, someone mentions Abrar Ahmed. Mike pipes up: “Flash in the pan. Debuts are misleading. Doesn’t have the long-term record yet.” Goes on about needing years of consistent stats to be “impressive.”
I just couldn’t hold back. Pulled up those recent scorecards on my phone right there. Pointed at the wickets column game after game. “Look at this! Look! How is this not impressive right now?” I asked. Started going through the teams he faced – England, solid lineup. Took apart their batting.
Mike kept shaking his head. “Too early. Need the volume.” We basically argued for 15 minutes. He wouldn’t budge. Said the stats seemed good, but without more matches, it doesn’t mean much. I think he just didn’t want to be wrong.
Where I Landed
Honestly? Screw Mike. Seriously. My little deep dive proved it to me. Seeing Abrar take big hauls consistently, especially in his first few games? Against quality players? That’s pressure. That takes skill. Right now, today, those numbers are damn impressive. Doesn’t need 50 tests to prove he’s having a stunning start. The recent record speaks for itself. Loud and clear.
And yeah, Mike can keep his “volume” argument. I’m just gonna watch Abrar bowl his magic and enjoy it. They actually offered me a gig with Mike’s team later yesterday afternoon? More money? Told em nope. Not sitting next to that guy every day. Not worth it. Screw em.
