"One day... I'd like to become a player like him," Akeal Hosein, a teen seeking to advance in Trinidad's domestic scene, wrote on his Twitter account in 2013 of his desire to be like India's left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
When Hosein, a left-arm spin all-rounder, was called in for bowling in the Indian team's practise nets at Queen's Park Oval six years later, he had the opportunity to engage with Jadeja, his hero. After practise, Hosein had an opportunity to consult Jadeja about the best course of action for him to take in order to play cricket at the international level.
"How does he go about seizing opportunities with both bat and ball even before he joins the India team, I asked him. He informed me that obtaining it requires effort. It will be really tough to just go on the international scene and then be able to execute with the bat in key situations, so you need to approach your club coaches and regional coaches and let them know you need the opportunity."
"Making sure you are in a position to take advantage of that opportunity at the club and regional levels will make it easier for you to advance in international cricket. Thus, the conversation was mostly about that "brings up Hosein in conversation with IANS.
In the present, Hosein will play for the West Indies in the opening ODI against India on Friday. Hosein has started every game for the West Indies in the white-ball since making his international debut in 2021, including a match against India in February of this year.
"When you play a team that is ranked number one or two in the world, it's never easy. But having faced them, you do have a few pointers to apply to the upcoming series. Playing in your backyard always gives you a confidence boost, so just get everything going "said Hosein prior to his home match against India.
Hosein has been contributing with some important runs in addition to his unwavering precision with the ball, which he describes as "pleasant." Hosein demonstrated his batting prowess in the third ODI against Pakistan in Multan after winning Player of the Series in the ODI series victory over the Netherlands. He smashed a brilliant 60 in 37 balls, which included six sixes.
Hosein seems to like experimenting with different ball movements. He wants to keep working on the things that have brought him success in the past, though, at the same time. "It's a significant matter (working on variations). Having said that, you shouldn't veer too far from what has been beneficial to you. I was informed of such by Dwayne Bravo. Yes, it's beneficial to constantly change, but it's also beneficial to kind of keep things straightforward for whatever works for you."
Since Kieron Pollard retired, Nicholas Pooran has taken over as the white-ball captain. Hosein believes that despite inconsistent field performance, the team supporting the left-handed hitter is gelling effectively.
"So far, it's been quite good. As we have been preaching in the locker room, Nicky's ability to keep the team cohesive has been one of his assets. He is really approachable and a lot of fun, so anyone can talk to him. So far, everything is going well."