Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan fondly recalled his ‘dream’ meeting with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rashid Khan highlighted Tendulkar’s words of wisdom and the profound impact his extended session had on the Afghan players before their match against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 6.
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner, is a crucial player in his team’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. While not at his absolute peak, Rashid Khan still managed to be a wicket-taker in the last ODI World Cup. He picked up 15 wickets in 18 matches at a decent average of 20.48. Rashid Khan had been firing on all cylinders in IPL 2024 for the Gujarat Titans.
Rashid was the team’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps in just 12 matches, boasting an impressive economy rate of 6.82. Rashid Khan brings a wealth of experience to the T20 World Cup stage. He’s a seasoned campaigner with a proven track record in the shortest format. His ability to spin the ball both ways and deceive batsmen with his variations makes him a wicket-taking threat on any surface.
The Little Master conducted one-on-one sessions with various Afghan players and delivered a motivating pep talk to the squad. Additionally, Tendulkar honored veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi with a special memento.
What Rashid Khan Said
Before the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rashid Khan reminisced about the unforgettable session during an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, expressing his sentiments. He said,
“That was kind of a dream for every player that he [Tendulkar] came in and gave us that time. He didn’t only come for about five or ten minutes. He was there for the whole session and that was the beauty. And we have learned a lot from that experience. But what was more important for me was that he told us he admired the skills of everyone and what we had achieved, that you guys are capable of beating any side – like we did, beating England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the World Cup.”
“The advice he gave and the ideas he shared about the wicket helped not just the youngsters, but everyone. The knowledge he gave about Wankhede really helped: as a bowling unit, he said, go harder in the first five to six overs because you can take advantage of the conditions that are favourable for bowlers. For the batters, he said, take it easy in the initial five to six overs. He said it was fine to take time because once the top order was settled, we can accelerate score big runs,” added Rashid.
Afghanistan left the Australian bowlers reeling with a remarkable batting showcase, amassing 291/5 in their allotted 50 overs. Despite having the Australians at 91/7, the Afghan team faltered, missing out on a potential historic victory. Glenn Maxwell, given an early reprieve in his innings, capitalized on the opportunity, smashing an extraordinary 201* off 128 balls, steering Australia to a thrilling three-wicket win.
Rashid Khan emphasised the significant impact of receiving appreciation from Sachin Tendulkar on his performance, describing it as a game-changer and a source of immense energy. He also relayed teammate Ibrahim Zadran’s sentiments about his interaction with Tendulkar ahead of the crucial clash against Australia.
Rashid said,
“Even for me, whenever I perform a little bit and a tweet comes from him, that gives me so much energy. It makes a huge difference, as it did against Australia for us as a batting unit scoring 291 against them. What was also special was he had one-on-one chats with some of our players, including Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a hundred against Australia, the next day,”
“I asked Ibrahim after that game what he spoke to Sachin sir about. He said, “When he [Tendulkar] spoke to me, that just totally changed my mind – the way he was speaking about me, about my game, how I’m playing. And he told me his old stories. That gave me so much energy and made my mind positive about the game tomorrow.”
Inspired by his interaction with Tendulkar, Ibrahim showcased his prowess against the Aussie attack, crafting a brilliant unbeaten 129* from 143 deliveries the next day.
Rashid, too, left his mark despite the team’s loss, contributing with a memorable performance of 35 runs off 18 balls and taking 2 wickets for 44 runs in his 10 overs.
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