Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) renowned wrist-spinner, Rashid Khan, after his another brilliant spell in the victory over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Dubai this Thursday (October 8).
The Indian batting legend lauded Rashid's skillset, his accuracy and intelligence as his figures of 3/12 in four overs helped SRH defend their total of 201/6 by 69 runs, dismissing KXIP for just 132 in 16.5 overs in Match 22 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
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"You ask all the captains of the franchises, which is the one bowler that they want in their team, I am pretty certain every one of them will say ‘give me Rashid’. I am pretty certain. There might be the odd bowler who might get offended but look at the way he goes about his job," Gavaskar said on Rashid in a post-match show for host broadcaster Star Sports.
"He picks up wickets, creates dot balls. Look at the economy. 3 for 12 in 4 overs. Leg-spinners generally bowls a full toss, a short ball. He hardly ever does it. He is on the target every single time, he has got a nice, well-disguised googly which comes off the back of the hand."
"A lot of batsmen find it difficult to pick. That kind of bowling, that kind of control, any captain will say ‘give me that bowler’" he added.
Rashid's scalps included that of KXIP's in-form batsman Nicholas Pooran (77). The bowler spoke of his exploits on the night during the post-match press conference and said he has made a conscious effort not to put himself under too much pressure, keep things simple.
"I was just trying my best to keep it simple for myself. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. Go there and enjoy my bowling that is what I have been doing so far," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
"On these wickets you have to adjust yourself with the line and length, which is the key. As soon as I came and bowled the first three balls, I realised what is the right length on this wicket and how should I bowl."
"At the same time, you have to bowl according to the weakness of the batsman, and that is what I have been doing and got the success," Rashid added.
The 22-year-old from Afghanistan has now taken eight wickets in six innings in the tournament while going at an economy rate of just 4.83.
