I put pressure on myself to perform, says TN's Mohammed

The speedster, who has been playing for Tamil Nadu for seven years, is just playing his fourth Ranji Trophy match in succession.

Tamil Nadu pacer M. Mohammad has realised there is intense competition for pace bowling places in the Tamil Nadu side. “Every game I play, I put pressure on myself to perform. I cannot be complacent," he said.

M. Mohammad is enjoying an extended ride with the Tamil Nadu side.

After his influential four-wicket strike against Bengal in a Ranji Trophy match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, Mohammed said, “I have been playing for Tamil Nadu since the past seven years but this is the first time I am playing my fourth Ranji match in succession. This has given me confidence.”

Mohammad said he was “focussed on performing his role for the team,” this season.

He added, “On pitches such as the one here at Chepauk, it is important not to concede runs and build pressure. The spinners will pick wickets, you have to contribute.”

Read: Mohammed rattles Bengal as Tamil Nadu takes first-innings lead

Mohammad realised there was intense competition for pace bowling places in the Tamil Nadu side. “Every game I play, I put pressure on myself to perform. I cannot be complacent.”

He said the conditions here encouraged reverse swing. “The ball is reversing sooner than expected.”

Tamil Nadu would be looking at setting Bengal a target of around 280, he said.

Bengal opener Abhishek Raman, who made a combative 98 for Bengal, said, “The conditions were not easy for batting. The ball is turning off the pitch and off the rough. There is bounce as well.”

“It was not easy to bat initially for me. But then, I found my own way to play on this track and took some calculated risks," he added.

Abhishek said Bengal’s objective would be to dismiss Tamil Nadu as quickly as possible and then go for the target.