Abu Nechim Ahmed with the IPL VI trophy in Calcutta. File picture

Former junior World Cupper and Assam’s only representation in the Indian Premier League, Abu Nechim Ahmed, took the victory lap shoulder-to-shoulder with the cricket greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Harbhajan Singh at the Eden Gardens over a fortnight ago and is happy having paid a rich tribute to Tendulkar’s illustrious career. However, he rues having missed an opportunity to deliver the Kookabura, especially to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co, on the Calcutta turf with which the Mumbai Indians pacer is more than familiar with having played for Assam since his childhood.

Ahmed, who captained Assam in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final earlier this season, was the 12th man for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL VI final against Chennai Super Kings on May 26.

Excerpts from an exclusive interview with The Telegraph’s Imtiaz Ahmed:

On being part of the IPL VI champions Mumbai Indians squad.

Invariably, a great feeling to be part of the champion team. I have played for MI for the last four years and we missed the title on three occasions. We won it finally and it marks a very special occasion because Sachin Tendulkar has decided to call it day in IPL after the final this year. All of us are more than happy and proud because we have managed to give his illustrious career a perfect farewell gift.

On being in the playing XI for only two matches in IPL VI.

I think I did not get enough opportunity even after delivering the best a pace bowler can the in the T20 format of the game.

My economy rate was hardly six runs per over. It is very difficult for pacers to keep it so low in T20 cricket. (He took three wickets in the two matches.)

But I can’t blame anyone because we had a very experienced line-up of pacers in our squad and there was only one slot left open for five of us to fit in. I hoped to get the opportunity in the semi-final and final because, as far as experience is concerned, I had more exposure to the Delhi and Calcutta wickets than my counterparts in the team.

I was very disappointed when I was asked to sit as the 12th man in the final against CSK at the Eden Gardens because I was expecting to get the opportunity there. But, the title victory made me so happy that I no longer rue having lost any personal opportunity.

On playing under the captaincy of different skippers during the last four seasons.

I have always enjoyed the most under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar. He is undoubtedly a genius in every role. Though I did not get the opportunity to play IPL matches under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, as a team member, I found him to be the perfect captain.

He is so dedicated that he takes personal initiative in every aspect, including taking every one of us personally to the fitness drills.

Though he opted out of the team in the later matches, he would always run up to help the captain and the team in gameplan and in the strategic timeouts. He has a vast knowledge of captaincy. Rohit Sharma deserves the kudos for having finally led the team to the title victory.

On his preparation for the Champions League.

It is starting in September. But the venue is yet to be announced. We will probably have to report for the camp by the end of August. In the meantime, I will be attending the Assam fitness camp and my regular practice drills.

On his Assam teammate Pritam Das missing a berth in the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pritam was in tremendous form this season. He was in better form than some of the KKR pacers this time. I don’t understand why they overlooked him throughout the season. He deserved to be in the squad if they had shortlisted him. They did the same to Arlen Konwar earlier.

On the spot-fixing scandal plaguing the IPL.

I would not like to comment on it because nothing has been proven so far. But it is unfortunate that the game has been tainted.