Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan Becomes Bowler with Most Hat-Tricks in T20 Cricket
Rashid Khan's heroics went in vain as KKR secured a win for the ages (IPLT20.com)
In a stunning display of spin bowling, Afghanistan’s spin wizard, Rashid Khan, etched his name in the annals of IPL history. During Match 13 of IPL 2023, the leg-spinner, with a steely determination, displayed his unparalleled bowling skills, clinching the first hat-trick of the ongoing season and cementing his position as a legendary spinner.
Rashid's heroics occurred during the 17th over of the game, where he claimed the wickets of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Shardul Thakur, all within consecutive deliveries to achieve the significant milestone.
The prodigious spinner's impressive display made him the T20 bowler with the most hat-tricks in history, surpassing even the likes of Andrew Tye, Mohammed Shami, Amit Mishra, Russell, and Imran Tahir.
Furthermore, Rashid joined an exclusive club of bowlers who have claimed hat-tricks against the Kolkata Knight Riders, including Makhaya Ntini (CSK), Pravin Tambe (RR), and Yuzvendra Chahal (RR). The 24-year old's four hat-tricks have spanned various T20 leagues, such as the CPL, T20I, BBL, and now the IPL, cementing his place as one of the best T20 spinners of all time.
Meanwhile, despite his sterling performance, the final moments of the game were not without their surprises. KKR batter, Rinku Singh, produced a stunning display of his own, hitting five consecutive sixes in the final over to secure victory for his team in a nail-biting finish.
The southpaw’s match-winning knock came after Venkatesh Iyer smashed 83 off 40 balls, laying the foundation for KKR's chase. The final result was a testament to the unpredictable nature of cricket and left spectators on the edge of their seats until the very end.
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