IPL 2023: 'Trying to minimise difference between googly and leg-break,' Rashid Khan seeks more improvisation in his bowling

Rashid Khan won player of the match award for his magical spell against Rajasthan Royals.

Rajasthan Royals had a tough home game against Gujarat Titans at Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur. Gujarat Titans had decimated Rajasthan Royals by 9 wickets in low-scoring chase. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals were bundled out for just 118 runs. Titans' bowlers had an upper hand against Royals. Rashid Khan with his 3 wicket spell in middle overs, didn’t let Royals score big. Only Sanju Samson could go on to score 30, rest no other batter touched the 20 runs mark. Rashid Khan picked up 3 wickets in his 4 overs conceding only 14 runs. The Titans had an easy run-chase with their top three contributing heavily. 

Hardik happy after a dominating chase against RR

Titans' opener, Wriddhiman Saha (41) and Shubhman Gill (36) added 71 runs for the first wicket. Gill got out stumped against Yuzvendra Chahal while attempting a big shot. Captain Hardik Pandya with his 15 ball innings got Titans over the line. Titans chased down RR’s total in just 13.5 overs. After a record chase, Hardik Pandya said, “Today my job was half done by the time Shubhman got out, I got a lot of time to think about the last game”. Noor Ahmed and Rashid Khan are proving to be assets for the Titans. Praising them he said, “I let Rashid handle him (Noor), They speak the same language and nobody is better than Rashid”. Noor Ahmed picked up 2 wickets. 

'We struggled against spin,' says Sanju Samson

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson was disappointed with yet another loss in the IPL 2023. Sanju Samson said, “We had a very tough night today, didn’t have a really good power play to start with and struggled against the spinners. Their bowlers were bowling good line and length and kept on taking some crucial wickets during middle over and when that happens, there’s nothing much you can do”. Trent Boult remains the second highest run-scorer in this game for Rajasthan Royals. He scored 15 runs with one four and one six. 

Rashid seeks more improvisation

Titans' leg spinner Rashid Khan won the player of the match award for his magnificent bowling. Rashid was toying with Ravichandran Ashwin in the 8th over of the inning. Talking about his bowling performance and his use of googly he said, “I did nothing different, Just making sure I don’t give any signals to the batters to pick the ball, I am just trying to minimise the difference between googly and leg break”. Afghanistan is producing great wrist spinners and Rashid Khan also talked about the talent coming from his country. He said that there are 1000 plus wrist spinners in Afghanistan who are working to get better in different academies.