Gujarat Titans (GT) are locking horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. GT spinner, Rashid Khan has been known for spinning a web around the world-class batters and that is always a treat to watch. His bowling variations are not easy for everyone to read and react to accordingly.
The leg-spinner is well-versed in making the batters dance to his tunes and he did the same thing against CSK. Rashid Khan excelled in troubling the two ace overseas CSK all-rounders Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes. Both the Englishmen found it tough to face Rashid Khan and ultimately, ended up succumbing to his vicious leg spin.
WATCH – Mohammed Shami Cleans Up Devon Conway To Claim His 100th IPL Wicket
Right before the conclusion of the Powerplay, Rashid Khan bowled a googly around the off-stump, which tempted Moeen Ali to move down the track and heave it big. But in doing so, the Englishman was beaten in the flight and got a feather of an outside edge and Wriddhiman Saha took the catch.
Here is the video of the dismissal of Moeen Ali:
In the eighth over, Rashid Khan got the better of Ben Stokes with another googly that spun in sharply and only managed to take an inside edge of the English all-rounder’s willow as he looked to cut off the back foot. Once again Saha showcased his excellent glovework and took another great catch.
Here is the video of the dismissal of Ben Stokes:
Earlier, Mohammad Shami castled CSK opener Devon Conway to surpass the tally of 100 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The dismissal helped Shami surpass South African pacer Kagiso Rabada on the list of the highest wicket-takers in the IPL.
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Earlier, GT skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against the MS Dhoni-led CSK. On the other hand, Dhoni said that CSK will have four overseas players – Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Mitchell Santner, and Devon Conway while Maharashtra bowling-allrounder Rajvardhan Hangargekar made his IPL debut.
Rashid’s heroics also set social media ablaze as the netizens were left astounded. They came up with appreciation posts to hail the Afghanistan leg-spinner. Here’s how they reacted:
#TitansFAM to @rashidkhan_19 right now: #AavaDe | #GTvCSK | #TATAIPL 2023 pic.twitter.com/h0BvFycW6n
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 31, 2023
Thala hiding in dressing room in fear of Rashid Khan pic.twitter.com/ruSuTkYMcw
— Bish (@Duk3Nukem_) March 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/Shh_ImTabish/status/1641816079520632835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/ShreeThambiraj/status/1641815030277480449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/nonedible_muffy/status/1641815374789513218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Rashid Khan gets Moeen Ali & Ben Stokes.
The Number 1 bowler in T20 on show.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/112of51Rajkot/status/1641814975772786689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/cricaddict_18/status/1641815241125142528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
