Rony stands for runs

With two double centuries to his name, a batting average of nearly 200 and an astonishing 591 runs in three innings, Rony Talukdar is living his dream in the National Cricket League at the moment. His 201 against Chittagong on the second day of the third round of the NCL yesterday put Dhaka in a position of strength.

Add to that is his sublime performance in the Dhaka Premier League last year, where he comfortably topped the runs chart, and you might find yourself asking that tingling question: "Why isn't he playing for the national team yet?"

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The batsman in question though isn't worried about all that. At the moment he is busy preparing his plans for his next match against Rangpur; another double perhaps?

"My self-belief is at a really good place right now. This is obviously the best cricket that I have played in my career. But I want this to continue. I don't know what will happen in the future, all I am looking forward to is how I bat in my next game," Talukdar told The Daily Star.

The 24-year-old has had to go through a series of changes for his good run. For instance, he spends an extra hour in the nets, compared to his teammates and challenges the net bowlers to get him out. He even likes to spice things up a bit with a few friendly bets. "I tell them that they will receive a gift if they can get me out within an hour. It's just so that they give their best," chuckled Talukdar.

While it wasn't clear as to how many gifts he had to give away, the result of his hard work however is quite visible.

Of all the modifications though, it's the change in his attitude that the player reckons helped him most.

“Players are scoring so many centuries in international cricket at the moment. [AB] de Villiers and [Virat] Kohli, they are doing so well. I told myself that if they can do it, why can't I? I don't know how this change happened, but right now all that I focus on is the next ball.”

Scores in brief

CHITTAGONG: 155 v DHAKA: 518 for 4 (Rony 201, Abdul 113; Nayeem 2-68)

DHAKA METRO: 400 all out in 141.3 overs (Shadman 140, Asif 86; Al-Amin 5-49) v BARISAL: 141 for no loss (Shahriar 79 not out, Saif 55 not out)

RANGPUR: 310 all out in 106.2 overs (Ariful 68, Tarik 63; Ziaur 2-17) v KHULNA: 213 all out in 66 overs (Imrul 94; Mahmudul 5-76, Sanjib 4-35)

RAJSHAHI: 482 all out in 149.3 overs (Myshukur 158, Junaid 102, Forhad 87; Enamul 4-137) v SYLHET: 96 for 4 (Alok 28 not out; Saqlain 2-49)