Rashid Khan has named Virat Kohli as the most difficult batter he has ever bowled to. The Afghanistan star made this comment during a podcast with former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra. He said Kohli has been a challenge for him over the years.
Rashid explained that bowling to Kohli leaves no room for error. He said even if he bowls his best line and length, Kohli can still hurt him. If he misses his mark even slightly, Kohli will punish him. Rashid noted that other batters often look to rotate strike. But Kohli tries to hit boundaries. Rashid said he enjoys that competitiveness. He enjoys bowling to Kohli because there is no scope for mistakes.
The numbers back up Rashid’s view. Kohli and Rashid have faced each other many times in the IPL. In 11 innings, Kohli has scored 117 runs against him from 90 balls. His strike rate is 130 and his average is 58.5. Rashid has dismissed him only twice.
In the same podcast, Rashid also praised Shubman Gill for his captaincy in the IPL. Gill took over as captain of Gujarat Titans in 2024 after Hardik Pandya left. Rashid moved to Gujarat from Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022.
Rashid said Gill is calm and gives players freedom. He supports them and backs them to do well. Sometimes a captain demands certain things, which makes it difficult. But Rashid said this never happened with Gill. He added that Hardik was also like that. They know the players have played enough cricket. They just tell them how certain batters might play and what to bowl. Gill helps every player focus on their game. The team does not think about results.
Rashid Khan Praises Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Rashid Khan recently spoke to TimesofIndia.com. He said Afghanistan are no longer a side that just hopes to compete with the bigger teams. There is now a belief within the group that they can beat them. But he also admitted there is still work to do. In particular, Afghanistan need to improve their powerplay batting and bowling. Rashid said scoring big totals is a mindset they must develop. So the team has to find solutions together.
Rashid was asked about the current Indian T20 side led by Shreyas Iyer. He called it a very dangerous and destructive team. He said one after another, India have players who can score big and who have hundreds in T20 cricket. They play fearless cricket, which is how T20 should be played. He also picked Abhishek Sharma as a young player who will be very important for India in the future. Rashid spent time with Abhishek at Sunrisers Hyderabad and said they were close. He is doing well with the bat, but he is also a good bowler who can bowl in the middle overs. Rashid called him a big package for Team India.
Another young player Rashid praised was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He described the 15-year-old as a fearless cricketer who backs his skills and knows his shots. Rashid said Sooryavanshi’s shot selection is important, and he seems to know his game plan against any bowler or team. Rashid said you hardly see that kind of awareness at such a young age. He said Sooryavanshi has shown his ability not just in the IPL but also for India, and he is someone very special.
Rashid also named a few young Afghan players to watch. He said Noor Ahmad has been doing very well and can reach the next level. In the fast-bowling department, he said Afghanistan needs to improve, but there is one bowler, Abdollah Ahmadzai, who is already in the team and bowling quickly. Rashid believes that if he is managed properly, he can become a very quick bowler and a good future for Afghanistan cricket.
Finally, Rashid spoke about what is still unfinished for him. He said his biggest goal is to win a World Cup for Afghanistan. He is looking forward to that. He felt they had a great opportunity in the 2024 T20 World Cup when they reached the semi-finals, but they could not make the final. Winning an ICC event, whether the T20 World Cup or the 50-over World Cup, is something he wants on his record before he finishes playing.
FAQs
Q. Who does Rashid Khan consider the toughest batter?
A. Rashid Khan considers Virat Kohli the toughest batter.
Q. How many runs has Kohli scored against Rashid in the IPL?
A. Kohli has scored 117 runs from 90 balls.
Q. What did Rashid say about Shubman Gill’s captaincy?
A. Rashid said Gill stays calm and gives players freedom.
Q. Which young Indian player did Rashid praise?
A. Rashid praised Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Q. What is Rashid Khan’s biggest career goal?
A. His biggest goal is to win a World Cup for Afghanistan.
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