Ability. Execution. Intent.
Three major aspects of any athlete to stay relevant, with the latter one is the most important facet to hold all three together. The absence of intent may render the first two – valueless.
Mahmudullah Riyad had that intent aplenty. All the time.
Yes, his ability never matched with the types of Kumar Sangakkaras or Sachin Tendulkars. Nor did his execution caliber always lace the boots of Virat Kohlis and Wasim Akrams of the world.
Yet, it was his intent that set him apart. It was his intent that made him available for all the topsy-turvy situations that his country put him in.
Team need him at number 3? He’s there. 8 innings with 20 average.
Number 4? 20 innings with 51.33
5? 23 with 37.94
6? 68 with 35.14
7? 72 with 34.95
8? 3 with 30.50
9? 1 with 3
Not all the time he was successful, which mostly happened because of the absence of the first two aspect mentioned above. He paid hefty price for that too. Probably more than any other modern Bangladeshi cricketer around.
But no matter how many setbacks he faced, never for a single moment he lost his intent. Intent to be valuable, to be available for his country.
At any cost.
After that gutsy 64 against West Indies in St. Vincent, he realized he needed to change himself for the betterment of his team. He did. Learnt how to execute backfoot punch from Tamim and Nasir. Learnt how to be a better batsman.
Before 2015 WC, changed his entire dietary, fitness regime and approach under Chandika Hathurasinghe. Everybody knows what happened afterwards. And what made him do that?
Intent. Just like the intent he showed today.
Regularly moulding oneself to different patterns just to fit in is not everybody’s cup of tea. But he does it. Unlike a lot of more popular names.
And those who do, get the rewards.
Just like he did.