If Friday night belonged to him, Saturday morning only got better for Rashid Khan. The 19-year-old leg-spin sensation woke up to effusive praise from former cricketers. Khan, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has been one of the finest success stories of IPL 2018—he is the joint-second highest wicket-taker this season with 21 scalps.
Legends Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne were among those who complimented Rashid Khan for his brilliant performance in the qualifier 2 match against Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday at Eden Gardens. He scored a quickfire 34 runs in 10 balls, took 3 wickets for 19 runs, effected a run-out and took two catches, to propel SRH into their second IPL final.
Sachin Tendulkar changed his opinion of Rashid Khan after the match-winning performance, saying that he was the world's best leg-spinner in the shortest format. “Always felt @rashidkhan_19 was a good spinner but now i wouldn't hesitate in saying he is the best spinner in the world in this format. Mind you hes got some batting skills as well. Great Guy.”
Such is his impact that he has even got purists, who look at IPL with a jaundiced eye, to sit up and take note of his cricketing feats.
Former Indian skipper and spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi's excitement while talking about Rashid Khan was unmistakeable. “I just enjoy watching him and analysing his bowling. I am quite enamoured with his attitude,” admits Bedi, who has not been a big fan of cricket's shortest version and the IPL.
“He's absolutely fantastic, quite a performer. What I like most about him, apart from the technical bit, is that he enjoys every bit of what he is doing. That kind of enthusiasm is quite special. He is a tremendous competitor, loves being in the thick of things,” said Bedi to THE WEEK.
Shane Warne ,who is also the mentor of Rajasthan Royals, echoed Bedi's views while tweeting his praise for Rashid Khan. “As a leg spinner i love seeing all the different types of leg spinners playing in the IPL but watching @rashidkhan_19 bowl in these big games makes me proud as he loves this stage and pressure . It also gets me excited.”
Bedi, who has bowled alongside one of the finest exponents of leg spin—B.S. Chandrashekhar—even went to the extent of comparing him with his erstwhile teammate in terms of technique. “Rashid Khan has a very correct technique, bowls [at] a very, very fast-ish pace. I see a few elements of Chandra in his bowling in that respect. Of course, Chandra was more unpredictable. But Rashid Khan is also beating the batsmen off the wicket and not in the air which Chandra, too, used to do.”
However, he sounded a word of caution, similar to what Tendulkar said. “He is very young and fit yes, but he might get sorted in the longer format reasonably quickly. At the moment his mindset in the shortest format is praiseworthy.”
Bedi also credited SRH skipper Kane Williamson for managing Rashid Khan brilliantly. “Williamson has handled him very well. He has set attacking fields for him.”