IPL 2018: Rashid Khan resumes old rivalry in style

The trend of stocking up the playing XI with batsmen and picking up only few specialist bowlers is fast dying. Teams now know that it is the bowlers who win T20 games and they need to have 1-2 extra options in the lineup to cover up for the bowler who is having a bad day. The Sunrisers Hyderabad won the 2016 edition of the IPL with their bowlers. Teams found it hard to chase targets against them and succumbed to the variety possessed by the franchise.

Rashid Khan is currently one of the best spinners in the world. The 19-year-old has played a major part in the franchises consistent performances over the past few years. SRH spent the big bucks on Rashid to retain his services for the 11th edition and he has certainly lived up to the expectations.

T20 is unpredictable

The leggie won the Man of Match award for his outstanding spell of 4-0-13-1 against Mumbai Indians. Rashid bowled as many as 18 dot balls in his spell to help SRH contain Mumbai Indians, keeping them to 147/8 in their IPL 2018 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.

He was seen using an aggressive approach to prevent Pollard from cutting loose.“ We are always having fun when are there in the center. Against Pollard, I did (that) in the Big Bash (League) as well so… we (would) have some good conversation which makes the game more entertaining. People would watch it and get fun from that. That was the plan, to go against him very aggressively and try to (get) him to make some mistake and get his wicket because his wicket was very crucial that time. He is a kind of player who can take the game away from you at any stage,” Rashid told media on Thursday.

The Afghanistan spinner also added that it is not possible to achieve the same results in every game. SRH clinched the game in the last very with only one wicket remaining. T20 cricket is unpredictable. One over can easily change the course of the match. All the games cannot be won single-handedly. On a given day, one opposition player can make a big impact in the game.

Impressive Markande

Rashid was also full of praises for the young Mayank Markande. He added: “Today, the way he bowled was amazing, really impressed by him. Leg-spinners are like that, once they get their line and length right — that is what he did — you can bowl against any batsman in any condition. I think the way he bowled was really impressive. It was a hard condition when you are defending a low total, then it is difficult for you to take wickets and not give them runs. But he did really well.”

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