Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has opened up about his spin and hopes to replicate his Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) form for his new franchise, the Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2022.
The mystery spinner said that he has a fast bowler’s mindset in a spinner’s body with an uncompromising attitude when it comes to ripping his googlies and leg-breaks off the surface at nearly 100 kmph.
Rashid Khan told PTI: “I am a “spin fast” bowler because of the pace at which I bowl. It is very hard to spin the ball at that pace and for that, I think that it requires a different kind of skill set The speed at which I bowl is somewhere between 96 kmph to 100 kmph. It is hard to generate turn at that pace but I would rather bowl at that speed than bring it down to 70 to 75 kmph.”
He added, “I have always been a big fan of bowling quick leg-spin. I have just been trying different experiments with my bowling in the nets and it’s really helping. I don’t always consider myself as a leg-spinner, because, spinners use a lot of wrists and I don’t use my wrists that much. I just use the top of my fingers and so I am a finger spinner as well in that sense.”
On the mystery element, the Gujarat Titans spinner said: “It’s all about, being more consistent with line and length and whatever you are bowling — be it flipper or leg-break. As long as you have good control over your skills and can bowl in the right areas, it doesn’t matter, if there is an element of mystery or not. If you hit the perfect length time and again, anyone can become a mystery bowler. My length on which I have worked hard makes me different from other leg-spinners.”
Rashid is ready to deliver for his team in any given situation. He added, “Consistency is in having that kind of mindset. Yes, I am capable of delivering it in every stage and hard work and belief in skill sets is something I have always had. Doesn’t matter where I am playing, against which opposition, and what stage of the match, as long as I have that belief and skills, as long as I am giving my 100 percent, that’s what matters to me.”
Afghanistan stars Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Noor Ahmed are also part of the Gujarat Titans' set-up.
Speaking on the same, the spinner said: “It’s a huge opportunity for both of them. I already had that discussion with them when we were playing for Afghanistan. What mindset you need to have for a big event, you need to remain fully prepared, very strong mentally. Two months is a long time to learn from every coach. My advice to them is simple — never think about the result, it’s all about the process.”
On the Mumbai pitches, he said: “The bounce is more compared to other venues but we still need to bring our A-game. It’s always good for spinners in Mumbai but you do need to bring your own skill-sets.”
On being asked will he be happy if, after 15 years, he retires as the “world’s greatest ever T20 bowler”?
He signed off by saying, “Fifteen years is a long time. You don’t know where and how you will end up. Life is so unpredictable that you never know what’s going to happen the next moment. I never had that kind of set goals for myself even for the next three to five years. I always know that on a given day, I need to perform.”
(With PTI Inputs)
