IPL 2018: Sushma Swaraj has a reply to Twitter's appeal for Rashid Khan's Indian citizenship

It would be an understatement to say that Rashid Khan has been an absolute stunner in this year’s IPL. Coming from a war-ravaged Afghan province of Nangarhar, his journey to the star player of the IPL finalist team has been nothing short of a fairytale.

The 19-year-old bowler from Afghanistan has hit the right chords with the cricket fans throughout India. IPL is a tournament where people start trolling Indian players too if they play in the opponent team. It is hard being to be an overseas player and yet win the heart of the entire country, irrespective of which team they support in the Indian Premier League.

But that is exactly what has happened with the newest superstar on the block. As the tournament progressed and Rashid kept on performing brilliantly in matches after matches, Twitter got flooded with Indian fans requesting Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs to provide Indian citizenship to Rashid.

As funny as that sounds, a whole lot of people went on @-ing Swaraj directly, posing the same request. Keeping up with the humour, Swaraj answered back to all the tweets with one of her own. She tweeted to Rashid and said, “I have seen all the tweets. Citizenship matters are dealt with by Ministry of Home affairs.”

Here’s her deleted tweet

It was a sporting gesture on behalf of Swaraj to participate in a friendly banter. But the number of fans appealing for this on social media was way too high, and rightfully so.

In the second qualifier match played on Friday, Rashid almost singlehandedly took his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final with his all-round show, beating KKR by 14 runs. First, he scored a whirlwind 34* off 10, and then took 3 wickets for 19, taking his total tally of 2018 to 21 and setting up a final clash with CSK on Sunday.

Here are some of the many tweets of fans, trying to include Rashid Khan in the Indian team at all costs.

@SushmaSwaraj madam .. Rashid Khan Ko indian citizenship de do please #KKRvsSRH

— Hemant S Pant (@BeingHinDuzZ2) May 25, 2018

Please Indian government give Indian citizenship to this guy. #Rashid pic.twitter.com/N7xyW9zJ3N

— Mask ishan (@Mr_LoLwa) May 25, 2018

Dear @narendramodi and @SushmaSwaraj, can we give Rashid Khan an Indian Citizenship??? #KKRvsSRH

— Shareq Inamdar (@itssrq) May 25, 2018

Rashid Khan, you beauty ! 😍
Modi ji aadhar card banwao iss bande ka 💕#SRHvKKR

— Ravee_😺 (@raveeshah39) May 25, 2018

India should give citizenship to Rashid Khan. Serious. Best case scenario for 2019 World Cup. #SRHvRCB

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) May 7, 2018

Not many Khans who are in India deserve it, but this Rashid Khan should be offered Indian citizenship.#SRHvCSK

— Dr. Moriarty (@DesiOptimystic) May 22, 2018

Ma'am @SushmaSwaraj, what we need to do to get Indian citizenship for Rashid Khan.#KKRvSRH

— Abhay (@im_abhay_singh) May 25, 2018

What's the process to get Rashid Khan an Indian citizenship? #AbsolutelyGenius #Best#SRH #OrangeArmy #Qualifier2 #SRHvKKR #IPL2018Playoffs @SunRisers

— I ❤ AP 🚲🕉 (@thota_J) May 25, 2018

@SushmaSwaraj Is there any way, Rashid Khan can be given Indian citizenship? We need him in our XI @rashidkhan_19 #SRHvsKKR

— jeevan goud (@Jeevan_33) May 25, 2018

Hello @SushmaSwaraj Ma'am please grant permanent visa and citizenship to Rashid Khan. #SRHvCSK #IPL2018

— Rishabh (@jokebazz) May 22, 2018

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