On cloud nine after scoring his maiden ton against India, Bangladesh opener Tamil Iqbal said he emulated Virender Sehwag's aggression to notch up the best knock of his career against the world's number one Test side at Mirpur on Tuesday.
"I discussed with Shakib today that Sehwag plays his natural game and scores runs heavily. Our coach told me to just go out, play my natural game and enjoy myself. We did just that. I played my natural game. Every player has different ways of playing and plan their game," Iqbal said Iqbal's 151-run knock took Bangladesh to a fighting 228 for three at the end of day three of the ongoing second and final Test.
Iqbal said he rated Tuesday's blistering knock above the match-winning 128 against the West Indies last year.
The opener said he had always wanted to score big against India and he was happy with his performance against a strong Indian side.
"Scoring a century against India is a different feeling. I always wanted to score big against India. They are the world number one side now. I am very happy that I scored a century against them. Of course, this is my best century," said the batsman, who has two centuries in his 14-Test-old career.
"I think this is the way to go for me," Iqbal added. He said the wicket was getting better and his side would look to bat the whole day on Wednesday.
"The wicket is getting better and better. We will try to bat the whole day tomorrow and see how many run lead we can have," Iqbal, who faced 183 balls to lead the Bangladesh fight back after conceding 311-run lead to the visitors, said.
Iqbal, nephew of former Bangladesh captain and now selector Akram Khan, dedicated his century to his late father Iqbal Khan.
"My father wanted both me and my elder brother (Nafees Iqbal who played 11 Tests till 2006) to play for the country. But he had passed away before my Test debut so I want to dedicate this to my father," he said.
