GT got a world-class cricketer in Rashid Khan: Mohammad Kaif. Rashid has proven his worth by taking consistent wickets and scoring runs.
The defending champions, Gujarat Titans, are on pace to make the IPL 2023 playoffs. They are currently leading the IPL standings with a few games remaining in the group stage and would like to finish in the top two slots. In their most recent game, they were defeated by the Mumbai Indians, scoring only 191 runs in response to MI’s 219-run target.
MI got off to a strong start before Rashid pegged them back with the wickets of both Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the same over. The Afghan spinner then cleaned up the in-form Nehal Wadhera and also scalped the wicket of Tim David to end up with figures of 4/30 in his four overs.
The Hardik Pandya-led side would not have reached even 191 if Rashid Khan hadn’t played the astonishing knock. The Titans were in serious trouble at 103/8 and on the verge of a crushing loss until the Afghan took the aggressive route in the final few overs, bringing them that close. Rashid scored 79 out of the 88 runs that Alzarri Joseph and he added for the ninth wicket.
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GT Rashid Khan exhibited a batting frenzy against the MI bowlers
MI had posted 218 on the back of Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred and GT’s run chase was in tatters as they were 103 for eight.
He remain undefeated on 79 off 32 balls with three fours and ten sixes. But that’s not all. Rashid had already taken four wickets with the ball in the first innings and had a four-over burst of 4/30. Despite being on the losing team, former India star Mohammad Kaif lauded him after the game, saying that the squad is fortunate to have a player like him.
“The Gujarat Titans are fortunate to have Rashid Khan. He is not only a great bowler, but also a superb batsman. He is never defeated. “The Almighty has been kind to GT by providing them with a world-class cricketer in Rashid,” Kaif stated in an interview with Star Sports.
Kaif also hailed the clinical performance by MI on the day and said that the confidence they will get from defending the total on the flat deck at the Wankhede would bode well for them in the coming games.
“This is a clinical performance from Mumbai Indians and the confidence in defending the total against GT on a flat deck at Wankhede Stadium will bode Rohit Sharma-led side well in the coming games,” said Kaif.
Rashid has had a tremendous season with the Titans. He is now the Titans’ and the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, leading the IPL 2023 Purple Cap race with 23 wickets in 12 matches. He had his best bowling numbers this season against the Mumbai Indians and is the only player in the current edition to have a hat-trick.
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