#OTD in 1998: Rashid Khan was born
Rashid Khan in IPL (PC: Twitter)
On this day, twenty-four years ago, Afghanistan's ace spinner Rashid Khan was born in Nangarhar.
Making his international debut in 2015, Rashid is currently the leading wicket-taker for Afghanistan across all three formats with 308 scalps in 157 matches.
Making it big in franchise cricket
Rashid delivered in his maiden IPL season in 2017 for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 17 wickets in 14 games and helped the team to reach the playoffs.
He then represented Adelaide Strikers in the BBL 2017-18 and emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 18 scalps, and helped the team to lift the title. The cunning spinner then followed it by emerging as the best performer of Strikers in the subsequent season as well.
Rashid's quickish delivery and ability to land an accurate googly were second to none, as he bagged 21 wickets in 17 appearances in the 2018 season.
The 2022 season witnessed the leg-spinner taking 19 wickets in 16 games for the champion Gujarat Titans.
T20I Player of the Decade
Rashid used his experience in franchise cricket to propel Afghanistan cricket to new heights. Under his leadership, they have become one of the strongest bowling sides.
Interestingly, Rashid was named as ICC T20I Cricketer of the Decade award for his incredible performances in international cricket from 2010-2019. He scalped 89 wickets in 48 T20I games at an astounding average of 12.62, with best figures of 5/3 against Ireland in 2017.
Currently, the Afghan superstar is ranked fifth in the T20I rankings.
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