Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan says he’s been working hard after being drafted in the IPL

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan shared that he has been working hard after being picked up by IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. Khan, who made his debut for Afghanistan in 2015, has been a sensation since. His consistency with the ball and his controlled variations have earned him a place in the world’s most lucrative cricket league.

“After I got selected in IPL, I started working hard. In such a big league, I have to work harder to prove myself. There is no pressure. I just want to enjoy it. T20s are about enjoyment. The more you enjoy, the better you will perform,” the young leggie was quoted as saying to the Times of India.

Following the footsteps of mentor and former captain of his national team Mohammad Nabi, Khan was bought by the Sunrisers for a whopping Rs. 4 crore. The youngster was touring Zimbabwe during the event, and the way things proceeded with his bid was a major surprise.

“When the auction was in progress, I felt the pressure because I didn’t know how it would go. But thank God, I got selected. My expectation was to be part of IPL. I didn’t expect that price. I watched Imran Tahir not being picked by any team and was thinking if the No.1 bowler is not taken by any franchise, why would I be picked? But the bidding war was a surprise for me,” Khan shared with TOI.

Rashid Khan’s forte is his deceptive googly which has troubled many a batsman. The 19 year old spinner is eager to work with spin wizard Muralitharan and add a few more tricks to his bag. “I will try my best to learn from him,” the young leggie said when asked about the opportunity to meet with the legend.

“It’s a great feeling to be with champions of last year’s IPL. Apart from great coaches like VVS Laxman, Tom Moody and Muralitharan, we have some wonderful players like Yuvraj Singh, Dhawan, David Warner and Kane Williamson. It is a great opportunity to learn from their experience,” Khan added.

Rashid Khan could well go on to feature in the curtain raiser of this year’s IPL. If Khan does take the field tomorrow against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, he will make history in becoming the first Afghan player to play in the Indian Premier League.