Akeal Hosein has disclosed the guidance he received from Dwayne Bravo that helped him shift his perspective towards constant development and self-improvement.
The spinner also discussed how he psychologically and strategically prepared himself to bowl against MI New York on the eve of the Texas Super Kings’ match against the former in the 2025 Major League Cricket season. The left-arm spinner bowled an extremely thrifty session of 3/15 in his four-over quota in what was otherwise an utter run-fest of a game.
Akeal Hosein explained how much depends on a bowler’s mindset when bowling at batting-friendly environments like Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
He also discussed how he had trained his mind to bowl to his West Indian teammates, Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard.
“I believe it’s a mindset. Coming up against this team was a challenge I was willing to accept. They have world-class athletes. To beat these people, you have to be on your game. To be honest, I recognise them (Pollard and Pooran) individuals. We’re pals off the pitch, but on the pitch, we’re serious. Fortunately, this turned out to be a good day. I decided to bowl in the power play. I had a long night doing study for these folks. “I prepared for situations,” Hosein said after collecting the Player of the Match award at the post-match ceremony.
“If you want to be the best at this game, you must be a student of the game, whether it is women’s cricket, U-19 cricket, or men’s cricket. Growing up, the famous Dwayne Bravo once stated that as long as cricket is being played and you have the time to sit back and watch, you can learn something. I took that away from him. For me, it’s about trying to learn and improve,” Hosein said.
He bowled 14 dot deliveries in his quota, including a maiden in his third over. Out of the 24 deliveries he bowled, he conceded only one boundary (six). He was also the only player from both sides to have an economy rate lesser than 10.
India
