RASHID KHAN: EVERY DOT BALL IS LIKE A WICKET IN T20 CRICKET

Rashid Khan has revealed the secret behind his success in this season’s Indian Premier League. 

The MI Cape Town superstar turned the tables on many of his Betway SA20 teammates on Friday when he produced a sparkling bowling performance of 2/32 for the Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to book his team’s place in the IPL 2023 final. 

One of his wickets was MI Cape Town all-rounder Tim David with Rashid trapping him LBW for two. 

Rashid’s consistency throughout the IPL for the defending champions has once again been a beacon of light with the Afghanistan legend having claimed 27 wickets at an average of 18.81 this season. This places him just below teammate Mohammed Shami in second place on the overall IPL wicket-takers list this season. 

Even more remarkable in an IPL season where batters have dominated and scores have been higher than ever, Rashid’s economy remains a miserly 7.93.

“I just try to keep things simple. And don’t think about what you don’t have control over,” Rashid said.

“You have been well prepared, been working hard in practise. As soon as the game starts, you switch on. Go there and express the talent. We go to the playoffs with a positive energy.”

Part of the leg-break bowler’s success has been his ability to adapt to various situations, whether it’s bowling in middle overs or being tasked with taking the new ball in the opening six Powerplay overs. This has only been possible due to the hard work and preparation being put in behind the scenes at training.

“Bowling in T20 cricket, especially in the middle overs, nowadays with the impact player, gives the opposition the advantage of one more batter in the line-up,” Khan said.

“But I’m always keeping in the mind to keep bowling dot balls, and trying to bowl as many best deliveries as possible. I feel like every dot ball is a wicket in T20 cricket.

“Especially nowadays like when the batters are coming hard at you, small boundaries, and good wickets to bat on. I count a dot ball as a wicket for myself. I am trying my best to keep it as tight as possible. 

“And that really helps the other guy bowling at the other to take wickets. My job is just to keep it tight in the middle and not give away too many runs. 

“This year I bowled more in the Powerplay in a few games, but nothing changed too much. There are only a couple of fielders outside the circle on the boundary, so you can only try not to make it too easy for the batters to hit you in the areas where there are no fielders. 

“When I am bowling in the nets, I imagine that I am bowling in the Powerplay, so it’s all about practice in the nets, so now in the game I know where to bowl, and where to make it harder for the batters to score,” Rashid added. 

Rashid will feature in his second successive IPL final on Sunday, along with fellow Betway SA20 stars David Miller (Paarl Royals) and Josh Little (Pretoria Capitals) when the Gujarat Titans face Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.