The IPL 2022 is the sixth IPL year for Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Never in a season, since making his IPL debut in 2017, has he’s gone at an economy of more than 7; once, in 2020, he conceded at only 5.38. This is while also taking 111 wickets at an average of close to 20.
Rashid Khan not only is a champion wicket-taker, but when he is not hurting the opposition with wickets, he’s keeping things tight for others to snap some dismissals. That’s what happened with Sai Kishore, the Gujarat Titans left-arm orthodox, when he got rid of the rampant Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson in the Qualifier 1 encounter.
Rashid Khan’s amazing spell in Qualifier 1
GT captain Hardik Pandya introduced Rashid straight after the powerplay, to target the Orange Cap holder Jos Buttler, who had settled in and looking to tee off, and Sanju Samson, who was already going gung-ho, in the knowledge that the leg-spinner has favourable match-ups against both of them.
Both Buttler and Samson knew that too – and the pair consciously decided to just knock around Rashid, even block him for dots, and not play any agricultural shot that could get them out unless it’s a terrible delivery – which rarely is in the case of Rashid, who’s regarded as the best T20 spinner in the world.
Six runs came from Rashid’s first over, and just 2 runs from his second. In between, though, Kishore was taken for a couple of boundaries by Samson in a 12-run over. However, with the pressure build-up by Rashid, Samson had to make it up in Kishore’s over – but holed out at long-on. Kishore reaping the benefits of pressure from Rashid.
The leggie continued – just 4 runs in his third over, keeping new batter Devdutt Padikkal thinking while Buttler played and missed and looked clueless in the form of his life. Rashid was removed from the attack and saved up for later.
He returned in the 16th over for his last with Buttler starting to free his arms and the in-form Hetmyer at the crease looking for a death overs assault.
That didn’t start in Rashid’s over as once again both the RR batters just carefully knocked around three singles with the left-hander playing out two dots balls to conclude a masterful spell of 0/15 in 4 overs on the pitch where RR scored 188 and GT chased it down.
Twitter was once again in awe of Rashid Khan’s splendid bowling display.
Here are the best tweets:
0⃣0⃣1⃣0⃣0⃣1⃣@rashidkhan_19 bhai, kaise kar lete ho?
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 24, 2022
For years in School we studied Maths but still struggled in the exam . @rashidkhan_19 is a problem you can never solve inspite of studying hard for years ! #GTvsRR
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) May 24, 2022
Rashid Khan’s spell in the Qualifier 1: (4-0-15-0). Just Outstanding. Absolute Legend of this game. pic.twitter.com/oPpWIn3gyx
— Cricket Page (@CricketPage3) May 24, 2022
Brilliant from the champion today. #RashidKhan
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 24, 2022
Brilliant from the champion today. #RashidKhan
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 24, 2022
The economy rate of Rashid Khan in play-offs in IPL is just over 4 – King.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 24, 2022
Everyone went for runs except for Rashid Khan. Was he the difference in this high-scoring game?#RashidKhan
— ComeOn Cricket
(@ComeOnCricket) May 24, 2022
(@ComeOnCricket) Forever thankful to SRH for letting Rashid Khan go, that Marco Jansen over is still the second best thing they did to GT
— Udit (@udit_buch) May 24, 2022
Three stars of Gujarat in Qualifier 1:
David Miller – 68*(38)
Rashid Khan – 0/15(4)
Hardik Pandya – 1/14(2) & 40*(27) pic.twitter.com/3py0vHdy5Z— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 24, 2022
Fantastic spell by RASHID KHAN
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) May 24, 2022
Rashid Khan’s spell in the Qualifier 1: (4-0-15-0). Just Outstanding. Absolute Legend of this game. pic.twitter.com/Wumc6QZ8ye
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) May 24, 2022
Rashid Khan Spell than diff
— Vinith
Tammy (@ViniSayz) 