Abdul Samad expects new approach to take him where he hasn't gone before

Jammu and Kashmir's Abdul Samad, a naturally aggressive batter, is hoping that a more measured approach brings him a big output in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.

Samad, 23, had scored twin centuries against Odisha in J&K's second game of the 2024-25 Ranji season, becoming the first J&K batter to achieve this feat in a first-class game. However, he couldn't sustain his form, and managed only 158 runs in his other eight innings in the season.

"Scoring two hundreds in a game obviously gives you a lot of confidence, and carrying forward from that, we got to play on the green tracks back home," Samad said on the sidelines of the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. "[I] didn't get to capitalise on those two hundreds and [convert] it into a big season like a 700-800-run season, but still I'm working on my batting. Hopefully, this season will be a good one for me.

"I think from last year to this year, I've become a bit choosy [with my shots]. Like I wait for the ball to land in my area and I keep waiting for that one and when it pitches in my zone, I go for it."

On Tuesday, against TNCA President's XI in the Buchi Babu semi-finals, Samad batted on a turning track at the CSK High Performance Academy ground. He was fairly selective in his strokeplay and showed good judgment against spin. He was right forward or right back to defend, and deployed the reverse-sweep only when the lines of the spinners didn't threaten the stumps. During his 75 off 96 balls, he also took some trips down the pitch and made sure he met the pitch of the ball while doing so.

"Yeah, I've changed something in my technique while playing spin and that thing is helping me - I'm trying to apply myself, especially against spin bowling," Samad said. "I've been working with our head coach Mr Ajay Sharma for the last two years and my batting has changed a lot after that. He always says one thing while playing spin: 'Keep your head down and try to reach the ball'. And that's working for me."

Samad has also drawn confidence from his stint with his new IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He faced 93 balls in 12 innings for them, hitting 164 runs at a strike rate of 176.34.

"A new team was a good changeover for me," Samad said. "Changing from SRH [Sunrisers Hyderabad] to LSG... I got to see new people and new team-mates. Last season was good for me [but] I couldn't finish well in the last three games. But I felt good [with my personal form]. I really like Rishabh Pant's mindset and he doesn't bother much when batting. See the ball hit, the ball. If it's there, [he] hits it."

In the previous season, J&K had made the Ranji knockouts for the first time in five seasons, following wins against Mumbai and Baroda. They nearly advanced to a maiden Ranji semi-final, and have now tuned up for the new season by making the Buchi Babu semi-finals.

To Samad, J&K are among the top Ranji sides at the moment.

"I think at the moment, we will be in the top three teams in the Indian domestic circuit," he said. "If you see the batch we have, the potential in the guys and experience, I see my team in the top three. I think this batch is playing from the last five years with each other and now we're getting that combination and coordination. We know what the guys can do, so the combination is very good at the moment."

Samad's occasional legspin gives J&K an extra bowling option, especially on pitches that aid slower bowlers. He has been working behind the scenes on his secondary skill, and sees himself performing a support role for frontline spinner Abid Mushtaq and offspin-bowling allrounder Sahil Lotra.

"I think my job is to do what is required for the team," Samad said. "So, I keep working on my bowling at the nets. Whenever there's a requirement, whenever a partnership builds, I come and give my team a breakthrough."