Rashid Khan, the star spinner for Afghanistan and Gujarat Titans, recently shared that batting coach Gary Kirsten has been instrumental in helping him improve his batting skills, making him a proper all-rounder for the team. In an interview, Rashid discussed Gujarat Titans’ performance in the IPL so far, their strategies, and their upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants.
Rashid has played in 396 T20 matches, scoring 1,943 runs at an average of 12.53 and a strike rate of over 142. He has even delivered many match-winning cameos for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He expressed his gratitude towards Kirsten, who helped him improve his batting skills. Ashish Nehra, the head coach, has also been supportive and sees Rashid as a genuine all-rounder for the team.
Although Rashid is known for his bowling skills, he has scored runs when required for the team. Rashid feels that the IPL journey has been challenging, but he has learned a lot and is proud of his achievement of nearing 100 matches. He believes it is a significant milestone for an overseas player, and performing consistently is a big challenge.
Regarding Gujarat Titans’ performance so far in the IPL, Rashid expressed his happiness with the cricket they have played. The team has won three out of five matches and is among the top-three teams in the points table. He admitted that the team made some mistakes in the two games they lost, which cost them a win. However, Rashid is optimistic and believes that the team has learned from its mistakes and is looking forward to rectifying them in future matches.
During the interview, Rashid talked about the impact player rule, which poses a threat to all-rounders. He mentioned that all-rounders need to be 70% proficient in one skill and 30% in the other to be utilized properly, rather than being 50-50 or 60-40 proficient in their skill set. However, high-skilled all-rounders like Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, and Hardik can get to play no matter what.
Rashid also spoke about Yash Dayal’s final over against KKR’s Rinku Singh, where the latter hit five sixes. Rashid stated that such situations are a part and parcel of the sport and that the team supported Dayal. He believes that it could have happened to anyone and that the team has moved on from that match.
In conclusion, Rashid Khan is happy with his team’s performance so far in the IPL and is looking forward to their upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants. Rashid’s impressive performance in the league as an all-rounder has been instrumental in Gujarat Titans’ success. His journey towards 100 matches has been challenging, but he is proud of his achievement and determined to perform consistently for his team.
