'Cometh the hour, Cometh the Man' - Twitter erupts as Rahmanullah Gurbaz notches up highest individual score by Afghan player in IPL

Gurbaz smacked 81 runs off 39 deliveries.

By Koustav Sengupta

Updated - 29 Apr 2023, 18:05 IST

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13 Min Read

On his return to Kolkata Knight Riders' playing XI, young Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz wreaked havoc and scored his second half-century in IPL 2023. His fifty also saw him notch up the highest individual score by an Afghan batter in the history of the IPL.

With wickets falling from one end, the 21-year-old played his natural game, scoring a cracking half-century in just 27 deliveries. With that, he gave Kolkata Knight Riders a perfect start as the home side was 61/2 after the powerplay.

Gurbaz smacked four boundaries and four sixes in the process and set the tone of the match for the two-time champions. Notably, with Jason Roy currently not available due to a back injury, Gurbaz made his return and created an immediate impact.

However, there was very little support from the other hand. Narayan Jagadeesan got out after scoring 19 off 15 deliveries while the experiment to promote Shardul Thakur up the order massively backfired. The all-rounder got out without opening his account after four deliveries.

Batting at number four, Venkatesh Iyer too flopped with the bat as the all-rounder managed to score only 11 runs off 14 deliveries. Batting at number five, skipper Nitish Rana scored only four runs off three deliveries as KKR was in deep trouble at the halfway mark of their innings.

Gurbaz however kept going and ended up scoring 81 runs off just 39 deliveries. Overall, he smashed seven sixes and five fours and gave KKR much-needed support with the bat. Notably, young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad picked up his wicket as Andre Russell walked into the middle to take guard. On his 35th birthday, the West Indies international played really well and showed a lot of intent and ended up scoring 34 runs off 19 deliveries as KKR posted 179 runs after 20 overs.

Meanwhile, with the ball, Mohammed Shami was brilliant as the ace pacer picked up three wickets. Joshua Little was splendid as well as he along with Noor Ahmed picked up two wickets each.

Here's how Twitter reacted to Gurbaz's knock:

Ridhima Pathak@PathakRidhima
Gurbaz has no mercy for Rashid Khan. 🫣 A massive 89-meter six followed by a four. Rashid is proving to be costly today. #KKRvsGT #IPL2023
05:35 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like63retweet3
Rajat Sehgal@RajatSehgal94
Today,Gurbaz has owned Hardik Pandya & Rashid khan both ... 81(39) He made Rashid khan a mediocre bowler #KKRvsGT @kkr #gurbaz
05:37 PM · Apr 29, 2023
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Ridhima Pathak@PathakRidhima
Ohoo! Just can't get any better. An Aghani going against another Afghani. Who will win in this Rashid vs Gurbaz battle? #KKRvsGT #IPL2023
04:53 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like71retweet5
Ridhima Pathak@PathakRidhima
KKR fans are enjoying Gurbaz's mad-hitting show at Eden Gardens. #KKRvsGT #IPL2023
05:14 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like28retweet2
S.Badrinathverified@s_badrinath
Gurbaz is showing the world how to bat against Rashid khan #KKRvGT #IPL2023
04:55 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like358retweet20
Sumit Mukherjee@Who_Sumit
What an innings from Gurbaz. He scored 81 runs from 39 balls including 5 Fours and 7 Sixes #HitmanCutoutAtHyderabad #IPL2023 #HitmanBirthdayCDP #ViratKohli #RohitSharma𓃵 #GujaratTitans #AmiKKR #DCvSRH #JioCinema #KKRvGT #KKRvsGT #GTvKKR #GTvsKKR #KolkataKnightRiders #WTCFinal
05:40 PM · Apr 29, 2023
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Cricket Engage IN@crick__in
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is striking at 200! 68 of just 34 balls with 6 sixes #KKRvsGT
05:40 PM · Apr 29, 2023
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புகழ்@mekalapugazh
#KKR ல் out ஆன இரண்டு பேரும் reviewவையும் வீணாக்கிச் சென்றிருக்கின்றனர்..both are plum lbws..#KKRvsGT
புகழ்@mekalapugazh
Gurbaz c Rasheed b Noor 81(39) all Afghan event..#KKRvsGT #IPL2023
05:39 PM · Apr 29, 2023
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Santosh Kumar Amara@santosh_amara
Gurbaz hitting Rashid is fun to watch. Very few can hit him like that. #KKRvsGT
05:38 PM · Apr 29, 2023
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Saankhya Mondal@saankhyaCFC8
R Gurbaz with 81 off 39! 👏👏 Gets bowled and caught by Aghans. An all-Afghan affair. #KKRvsGT #KKRvGT
05:38 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like1retweet0
Arijit (FAN)@SRKsArijit
WELL PLAYED GURBAZ 🔥 WANTED YOU TO HIT 3RD CENTURY FOR KKR. #KKRvsGT
05:39 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like10retweet4
Vignesh Bharadwaj@VBharadwaj31
Cometh the hour, cometh the man #RahmanullahGurbaz
05:54 PM · Apr 29, 2023
like0retweet0

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