It seemed like Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) run-chase would shift down the wire but Rashid Khan smashed a four followed by a six in the penultimate over and snatched the game from Rajasthan Royals (RR). Also known for his hard-hitting capabilities, the Afghanistan bowler showed great temperament in the pressure situation to take his team home.

Speaking after the game, Man of the Match Rashid said that the coaching staff gives him a lot of confidence and that has helped him improve his batting. He also added that he looks to remain positive and back his own skills.

“I am working on my batting. I need to bat well when my team needs me. My coaches—(Tom) Moody, Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and (V.V.S.) Laxman—have always backed me and given me lot of confidence saying you can hit anywhere, just a case of backing yourself. That's what I did.

 

 

“I think I just try my best to be positive in each game and I am working hard and believing in my own skills, so that's what is working for me,” he said.

But before his heroics with the bat came another brilliant display with the ball as he dismissed the dangerous Jos Buttler at the top of the Royals innings. Rashid said that having dismissed the dangerous batsman a few times earlier also gave him the slight edge.

Asked about the secret behind his consistent show even in a format like T20 cricket, Rashid said, “I have five different leg-spin variations with different actions. I just back myself with my variations and pitch it in the good length area.”