Ranadeb Bose: Indian bowler who has a hand in Mustafizur Rahman's success

Ranadeb Bose during an India training session on a tour of England in 2007

Mustafizur Rahman, the 19-year-old Bangladeshi left-arm pacer who has had a rapid rise to stardom after taking five wickets against India on his international debut on Thursday, was spotted and coached by former India and Bengal pacer Ranadeb Bose, said the man who came very close to playing for the country in the mid-2000s.

"I was asked to choose 10 bowlers and Mustafizur was third on my list. I was immensely impressed by him in the training sessions and wanted him in the group," said Bose on his stint as bowling coach at the Bangladesh national academy from 2012 to 2014.

Bose retired from domestic cricket in 2013 – with the unbelievable record of having bowled 10,708 balls in first-class and club cricket matches without overstepping till the 2006-07 season.

Altercations with Rohit and Dhoni result of pressure: Bose

Mustafizur Rahman’s accuracy, consistency, and his deadliest weapon – the cutter – once again revealed India’s vaunted batting order’s fragility in the face of left-arm pace bowling on Thursday, but Bose said that the young man’s humility is his most striking feature.

Bose said, "There was a rustic simplicity about him back then and I don't think he has changed much. The altercations that he had on the field with Rohit (Sharma) or MS (Dhoni) might just be a result of the pressure that a boy like that feels when he is suddenly under the spotlight. I can assure you he won't carry it forward."

"I used to spend long hours with him at the nets. I corrected his wrist position, worked on his run-up and release. It's so satisfying to see that he has developed so much. He is bowling slower deliveries so well."

Rahman does not have too many fans in India at the present time, but one-time coach and mentor Ranadeb Bose is of the belief that he has found a rare gem.