<p class="title">Having impressed the team management with his skill set, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed now wants to seal his spot in the 2019 World Cup-bound Indian squad with some good performances in the upcoming series against the West Indies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Khaleel made his debut during India's victorious Asia Cup campaign in Dubai and his ability to swing the ball at a fair pace impressed none other than stand-in captain Rohit Sharma.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With 18 games left before India's World Cup opener against South Africa on June 5, next year, Khaleel has his priorities in place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a good preparation for me for the World Cup. I want to take as many wickets as I can in the ODIs leading up to the World Cup. It will also boost my confidence and I will be under less pressure if I am picked for the World Cup," Khaleel said ahead of India's first ODI against West Indies on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His stint at the Delhi Daredevils with Zaheer Khan as the mentor has helped him evolve, feels Khaleel. "I think I became a better bowler with his (Zaheer's) advice," the 20-year-old from Rajasthan's Tonk said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have spent a lot of time with Zaheer bhai during my two-year stint at the Delhi Daredevils. We played in different conditions during IPL and he always kept discussing on how to bowl on different surfaces," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In his second series with the senior team, Khaleel recalled how nervous he was before his debut against Hong Kong, in which he recorded impressive figures of 3 for 48.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I was very nervous (for my debut) as my first tournament happened to be a big tournament like the Asia Cup. There was pressure. But after doing well on debut, I felt I could go further," Khaleel said after the nets session at Assam Cricket Association's Barsapra Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even though it's his second series, Khaleel said that the seniors have never made him feel like a newcomer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I never have a feel that I'm a junior in the side. Seniors support me well. Everyone keeps talking to me and boost my confidence," he said of the good camaraderie in the side, he said.</p>
<p class="title">Having impressed the team management with his skill set, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed now wants to seal his spot in the 2019 World Cup-bound Indian squad with some good performances in the upcoming series against the West Indies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Khaleel made his debut during India's victorious Asia Cup campaign in Dubai and his ability to swing the ball at a fair pace impressed none other than stand-in captain Rohit Sharma.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With 18 games left before India's World Cup opener against South Africa on June 5, next year, Khaleel has his priorities in place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a good preparation for me for the World Cup. I want to take as many wickets as I can in the ODIs leading up to the World Cup. It will also boost my confidence and I will be under less pressure if I am picked for the World Cup," Khaleel said ahead of India's first ODI against West Indies on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His stint at the Delhi Daredevils with Zaheer Khan as the mentor has helped him evolve, feels Khaleel. "I think I became a better bowler with his (Zaheer's) advice," the 20-year-old from Rajasthan's Tonk said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have spent a lot of time with Zaheer bhai during my two-year stint at the Delhi Daredevils. We played in different conditions during IPL and he always kept discussing on how to bowl on different surfaces," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In his second series with the senior team, Khaleel recalled how nervous he was before his debut against Hong Kong, in which he recorded impressive figures of 3 for 48.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I was very nervous (for my debut) as my first tournament happened to be a big tournament like the Asia Cup. There was pressure. But after doing well on debut, I felt I could go further," Khaleel said after the nets session at Assam Cricket Association's Barsapra Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even though it's his second series, Khaleel said that the seniors have never made him feel like a newcomer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I never have a feel that I'm a junior in the side. Seniors support me well. Everyone keeps talking to me and boost my confidence," he said of the good camaraderie in the side, he said.</p>