Cricket News

‘Rashid Khan ko net bowler bana diya’- Twitter lauds Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a brilliant 81 off 39 against GT in IPL 2023 match

Published on April 29, 2023

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s scintillating knock of 81 runs off just 39 balls against the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday was nothing short of a masterclass in power hitting. The young opener, who was traded from the Titans to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season, put on a display of brute force and finesse in equal measure, hitting five fours and seven towering sixes in his innings.

Gurbaz, who replaced Jason Roy at the top of the order, got off to a flying start by hitting Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya for two huge sixes in the second over of the innings. He continued his assault on the Titans’ bowlers, especially his fellow countrymen Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, whom he dispatched to all parts of the ground with ease.

The 21-year-old right-hander showed great maturity and composure throughout his innings, picking the right balls to hit and taking calculated risks. He played a range of shots, including lofted drives, pull shots, and deft flicks, which left the Titans’ bowlers clueless and demoralized.

Despite losing his opening partner, Shubman Gill, early in the innings, Gurbaz showed no signs of slowing down, and instead accelerated his scoring rate with every passing over. He reached his half-century in just 25 balls and then shifted gears to score his next 31 runs off just 14 deliveries.

Gurbaz’s innings was finally cut short by a mistimed shot off Noor Ahmad, which went straight to Rashid Khan at deep mid-wicket. But by then, he had already done the damage and set KKR on course for a big total.

The Afghanistan wicket-keeper batsman’s knock not only helped KKR register a crucial win but also made history by becoming the highest-scoring Afghanistan player in the IPL. It was a fitting reward for a player who has shown great promise and potential in his young career so far.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s innings against the Gujarat Titans was a perfect example of power-hitting at its best. His ability to score quickly and his range of shots were a delight to watch and showed that he is a player to watch out for in the future. It was an innings that will be remembered for a long time by KKR fans and cricket lovers alike.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Gurbaz’s brilliant knock against GT: