Unlike the last few IPL seasons, Rashid Khan hasn’t had much impact with the ball in the ongoing IPL edition in terms of wickets.
Playing for Gujarat Titans, the leg-spinner has so far claimed 18 wickets in 15 games at an economy rate of 6.73. However, he isn’t bothered about the numbers as long as he can produce economical spells for his team.
Rashid feels his tight overs increase the chance of picking up wickets for bowlers from the other end.
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“My mindset wasn’t any different in play-offs. The energy and the thought process is the same throughout. But teams are playing it safe against me. So, I am trying to keep it tight and that increases the chance of picking up wickets by the bowler at the other end,” Rashid said in a press conference on the eve of the IPL final.
“Irrespective of whether it is a league game or knockouts, my mindset is to bowl in a certain area and I don’t try anything different. My objective is to build pressure,” he added.
Rashid Khan has also proved his mettle with the bat in the IPL 2022 season, playing crucial knocks at the fag end of the innings. His 9 sixes and strike-rate of 206.81 is a testimony to his brilliance with the willow this year.
“I batted a bit higher than where I was batting before. The other thing is the confidence. It is given by the coaching staff, captain and all the players. They believed I will be able to perform. That is the kind of energy you need as a player and that has been given to me,” the Afghan cricketer stated.
“There are more batting practice sessions for me, batting more than before and the belief that everyone has on me, that this guy can deliver and score some runs for the team, crucial runs.
“I always had that belief that I can score those 20-25 runs for the team at the end, if the team needs,” he further said.
Gujarat Titans will take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29).
(With PTI inputs)
