Following Monday’s night nail-biting IPL match, which saw Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kings XI Punjab by five runs, praise was lavished on the Orange Army’s bowlers, including both Afghan players Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.
Commentators simply stated “Sunrisers bowlers were right on the money.”
For Nabi, Monday night’s game was his first IPL appearance and despite conceding ten runs in his first over, he returned for a second over and castled Eoin Morgan.
Fellow Afghan, Rashid, joined in the act and took out David Miller and Wriddhiman Sahain in the following over.
Speaking to IPL’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar after the match, Nabi said: “I was a bit under pressure playing my first game.
“Obviously playing in one the biggest stages is bound to put you under pressure. I am glad I got a chance to bat and bowl in my very first game.
“My first over was forgettable though, being hit for a six. I just wanted to bowl wicket to wicket and make sure that I tie down the runs. But I am glad I could come back and pick a crucial wicket for the team.
“I hope to better my performance if I get a chance in the coming games,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rashid, known as the man with a golden arm, went for runs not before picking two wickets at a crucial juncture of the game.
Speaking about the pressure while fielding in the last, nail-biting moments, of the match, Nabi said: “My heart was racing. It was a tight contest and to add to it there were two wides in the last over which made the target even closer.
“Manan Vohra was brilliant and almost won it single-handedly,” he said.
Rashid meanwhile said: “I did get under the pump once I went for runs but I had self-belief that I will come back stronger in the next few overs.
“I know I have been hit for runs on deliveries that I bowled too loose. I wanted to bowl to the wicket and according to the plan. It did go haywire but I will try to better my performance in the next game,” he said.
“Every time I come to bowl, I try to outthink the batsman. If I feel that the batsman is expecting a leg-break, I bowl a googly and try to outfox them. I think that is the reason I have been getting wickets. Dot balls are very important in T20s and help you get wickets. I try to curb the runs, get dots and then go for the wickets.”
For Sunrisers, who now have three wins out of three at home this season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the wrecker-in-chief in Monday’s match, while the two Afghan lads picked up three wickets between them.
Kumar, who got Man of The Match, said: “There wasn’t much pressure on me because I have bowled under such situations in the past. I was mentally prepared to bowl the second last over and I had a clear plan when I ran to bowl.”
He said: “Sunrisers are known for their bowling strength and defending low totals. Tonight was just an example of the same and it was a complete team effort.”
Sunrisers are set to play Delhi Daredevils in their next match on Wednesday night. The match will be broadcast live on Lemar from 7pm.
To view Rashid and Nabi’s wickets click here.