Taijul Islam Acknowledges Feeling Underrated Despite Stellar Performance

At the end of the first day of the Chattogram Test, Taijul Islam stood tall for Bangladesh, dismantling Zimbabwe’s batting line-up with a brilliant five-wicket haul. After Zimbabwe’s strong start, they were eventually restricted to 227/9, largely due to Taijul’s masterful spin.

Tamim Iqbal, in a Facebook post, referred to Taijul as an "underrated" bowler. When asked about Tamim’s remark during the post-match press conference, Taijul humbly agreed.
"Yes, I feel the same (underrated)," Taijul admitted with a candid smile.

When pressed further to explain why, he replied with a hint of sadness, "Perhaps you (journalists) know better than I do."

While Taijul had a modest outing in the Sylhet Test — picking up just two wickets across two innings — he quickly found his rhythm in Chattogram. Speaking about his overall performance, the experienced left-arm spinner confidently stated:

"Alhamdulillah, considering the number of wickets I have taken over so many Tests, I don't think people who criticize after watching just one match truly understand the game."

Expressing satisfaction with his contributions, Taijul added:
"Of course, it’s a matter of pride. When a player has played 50 Tests, bowling the way I did in Sylhet isn’t ideal. But making a strong comeback after that feels good. Most importantly, I am contributing to the team."

For years, Taijul has been a silent pillar of Bangladesh’s Test bowling attack. Although he prefers staying away from the spotlight, his growing importance and consistency are becoming harder for anyone to overlook.