My dad told me you can't be a cricketer until you see blood on your face: Haseeb Hameed

This is your maiden series and that too in the country of your origin and you are a star in India. How does it feel?

Yeah, the love I have got from the fans and the appreciation have been amazing for me. Something I am very grateful for. Of course India has always held a special place in my heart, my parents are from here. I knew it would be special coming here to play. Made my debut in the home state (Rajkot, Gujarat) of my parents. It's something that I believed in faith. That was pure faith and destiny. It's been amazing the support I have received from the fans. I did something that means a lot to me.

How is your finger? You played a brave knock the other day and people are raving about it.

I have just had a surgery on Friday. So, I travelled back to England for surgery and I think they mentioned that it will take about six to seven weeks before I will be back to playing again. So, I am sure it will be tough in that period. But for the long term, it's definitely better for me. Even so, I still believed in whatever so happened is purely for the best for me. I have got something better in store for me because of this injury.
You handled India's top class bowling attack comprising (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja, (Mohd) Shami and Umesh Yadav quite maturely. How do you apply your mind behind the game? You are 19, but never looked like a teenager when playing them.

It's seriously very humbling to hear these words. I can't say I can put it down to one thing. Again, these things my father has taught me over the years and I have practiced to continue doing that whatever level I play. And thanks to this, it held me in good stead in this series. Something I have really enjoyed. I came here knowing that we are playing against the best side in the world, quality attack. Not only spinners, but Shami and Umesh Yadav and all, which means I had to face the reverse swing and the new ball. You have got a very strong attack. I knew its going to be challenging and something I was relishing, looking forward to. Honestly, I have enjoyed playing in the last few weeks.

Haseeb flanked by his father Ismail (left) and brother Noman (right) in Mumbai on Wednesday-Taus Rizvi/DNA

How much did you enjoy facing Ashwin, the best spinner in the world?

As a cricketer you want challenges. It's something you have got to enjoy, relish, facing the No.1 bowler in the world, it's something more than you can ask for in his home conditions. Of course, it's going to be challenging, that's where you want to test yourself, that's why you want to play cricket at the highest level. I really did enjoy it. I think the way which we played him has given me a lot of confidence as well. You know for me to be able to cope with him and not just get overawed by him which obviously gives me a lot of confidence. He is a very good bowler, he took a lot of wickets in this series as well which goes to show that, you know he is still on top of his game and he is very good bowler to face. It's something that I have enjoyed facing him and will take a lot of confidence from that.

You have come to India earlier and have practised at the Mumbai maidans under coach Vidya Paradkar. How much of it has helped you in your maiden series?

For sure, it has definitely helped me. For me it was a great experience coming here. You know learning from him. He is a very good coach. He helped me nail down the basics. I first came when I was 14 years old. It was a great opportunity for me to expand my game and learn things in and out in an evironment you don't get in England. Its nice to play on pitches I have had the experienced before and faced a lot of bowlers, to have his guidance overseeing my game was always great. It's definitely accelerated my development and having exposure to this environment, it did help me in this series as well.

How was it opening with your captain Alastair Cook and what kind of backing have you got from him?

Cookie was outstanding. If anything, it speaks volumes of the person that he is. Humbleness of the guy. For him to come out and say things that he did, having scored over 10,000 runs for England, can say England's best Test batsman. If anything that speaks a lot about the person he is. And I have really enjoyed batting with him. He is really a cool, calm customer. Keeps things nice, simple and relaxed. These were the things that I really enjoyed. Its great for me to also learn like him and Joe Root. Just the way they go about their business, not only in nets but in the middle as well. It's a valuable experience for me that I can take forward.

How nervous were you when you took your first guard? Did you expect to become a star in your maiden series?

That's very humble praise. I am still learning the game. I am still 19. And the important thing for me that my parents and my family keep instilling in me and have done from young age is to make sure that I stay level. The moment you go out of the game its a very difficult place you can find yourself in. It's important to stay balanced and humble. Those kind of things, not look too far ahead. Of course, before the first game I was nervous. I think it is natural. Especially, in the first innings I felt quite nervous, but the long stint out there the better I felt. Then in the second innings, it was just the case of being immersed in the game. Knowing what we had to achieve and that helped me a lot getting right at that moment, just not worry about external things, or as an individual. I had to do for the team that helped me perform in the second innings. From then on I had a lot of confidence. Again it is kind of people saying things like that. A lot more to achieve in the game. I hope this is just a start and more to come.

You played a brave knock scoring 156-ball 59 with an injured finger after being hit by Umesh Yadav in the first innings of the third Test in Mohali. How did you manage to do that?

I think the reason why people mention my age is of course I am quite young – 19, so I think most, if not all, the credit should go to my family for the qualities that they have instilled in me from a young age. I think a lot of that goes down to my dad especially. He has always brought us up to be tough. I remember him telling me from a young age that you can't be a cricketer until you see blood on your face. He was brought up in days when he had no helmet and still faced very quick bowlers. I had to cope. Of course, now you have got helmet. The morale behind his message was that: there are going to be times when you will be in pain, get hit. You have got to be mentally tough to react. And if I am perfectly honest, the injury which actually I took in the second Test match in the second innings when I got hit of Mohammad Shami, I think most of the damage was done then (smiles). I knew that it is going to be challenging in the third Test. Again hit in the third Test wasn't ideal, I just had to find the way. The best way to find out was make few visits the nets, take mind away from the finger, try and focus what I can do, give it my best shot which came in the last innings.

You are 19, but do you live the life of a 19-year-old? Describe yourself?

I am probably not your average 19-year-old. I have not had a lot of time to dedicate it to my social life in a way. Mainly, because I have tried to dedicate myself to my game, to my cricket. Because of that, I have not had the time to have as much fun as others. Its a small price to pay for me to be here or in India and play the best Test side in the world. I have enjoyed myself doing what I love to do. I don't see as a regret that I have not lived like a 19-year-old. But I guess it comes with the territory if you want to become an elite sportsman. It is the sacrifices that you have to make.

You are referred to as Baby Boycott.

Well, Geoff Boycott was a big role model for my dad. His defensive technique powerful strong back in the day. He was renowned for it. To be compared to him is nice to hear. Along the way, it is important to have your own authenticity and make identity in the game, which I have got to do.

What did Virat Kohli tell you?

First and foremost, I am extremely grateful for his time. He is the most sought after man in India if not world cricket. So, to spend time with him after the game was great. It is simply  that I appreciate a lot. And one thing that stood out for me was that he plays hard on the field. Which is absolutely how he should be that I see it. Of course, you want to give your all on the field and leave it all there and he does that exactly. He drags along his team with himself which makes him such a good leader. Off the field, he is such a humble and sincere guy, down to earth. We spoke a lot about his mind set and what makes him so successful. The message that he gave to me was how positive he is in his thinking. That conversation would help me throughout my career.