Rashid Khan's mystery spin and ability to dazzle the batsman has made him the World's number 1 T20 bowler. Rashid Khan who has been performing well since the Indian Premier League is all set to represent his nation in the maiden Test of Afghanistan against India on June 14.
Rashid Khan had a spectacular performance in IPL 2018 as he grabbed 21 wickets in the tournament. He then spread his magic over Bangladesh in the three-match T-20 series, winning the series 3-0.
It was very difficult for the wrist spinner to find a place when Afghan spinner was nowhere in the spotlight. Over the years, the player has gained a lot of confidence and his performance has improved consistently. The player will have a major role in the off-Test against India, his team will expect him to roar in the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Former Afghanistan's coach and former Indian player Lalchand Rajput feel Rashid Khan has grown as a cricketer, He added, "When I began coaching the Afghanistan team, I was introduced to this impressive under-19 spinner Rashid Khan. He was naturally talented. His arm speed was very fast and his bowling style was different".
"After six to seven months, when I thought he was good enough to play the IPL, I called up a few people. I called up Virender Sehwag and told him there was a talented leg-spinner and since Kings XI Punjab did not have too many spin options, Rashid could be a good choice for them. Sehwag said KXIP had have Axar Patel.. 'We don't need spinners, we need all rounders'."
"I also called up Gautam Gambhir (then captain of Kolkata Knight Riders). I knew they had issues with Sunil Narine at the time with uncertainty around his action. He refused and said 'We have Narine and Kuldeep Yadav'," Rajput told India Today.
Rajput also talked about how did he make a call to Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor to tell him about Rashid's ability, "I told him if he did not want to pick him straightaway, he should at least just keep a watch on Rashid. I told him that I had seen him bowl. My argument was he was quickish and could be a force (to reckon with) in India in April and May.
"Laxman kept following him in our I Cup and other T20 matches and ultimately picked him. He took a chance and the rest is history. Today we regard Rashid as the best spinner in the T20 format," Rajput added.
When remembering the talk he had with Rashid Khan once, he told, "He told me he had so many brothers and in their backyard games, they used to play with a tennis ball with each other. He told me his brother would hit him when he bowled slow, so he started bowling quick. And he could always bat well."
The former coach of Afghanistan is very interested and keen to see Rashid Khan representing Afghanistan in the maiden Test against India. He feels "Rashid is fearless. But Test cricket and T20 are different. There is no strike rate pressure in Test cricket and India have quality players against spin. But you never know. These spinners are coming in with confidence so one can't take them lightly.
"But remember people couldn't read Ajanta Mendis, before he was ultimately found out. In Test cricket, over a period of time, batsmen will start reading him. So that will be a challenge for him as well, he explained.
