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'Dilwalo Ki Dilli': Rashid Khan Thanks Delhi Crowd Post Afghanistan’s Win over England

image-lnsmm6c0Rashid Khan in frame. (Reuturs)

After Afghanistan's stunning victory over England in the 2023 World Cup in Delhi, Rashid Khan conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to the passionate crowd in Delhi that turned out in large numbers and wholeheartedly supported the Afghan team.

In one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Afghanistan came out victorious against the defending champions England by 69 runs on October 15. This remarkable win also stands as Afghanistan's second victory in an ODI World Cup, signifying a momentous achievement for the team.

Afghanistan's recent World Cup track record was not illustrious, with 16 losses in their last 17 matches, and their sole victory came against Scotland in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Despite these odds, the Afghanistan team displayed commendable resilience and skill, going head-to-head with Jos Buttler's England and emerging victorious.

Rashid's emotional statement

One of the architects of the famous win was Rashid Khan, who took to 'X' (formerly Twitter) the morning after the match to express his gratitude to the fans in the stadium and to supporters from around the world who rallied behind the Afghan team.

"Delhi sach mein dil walon ki hai. A huge thank you to all the fans at the stadium who supported us and kept us going throughout the game. And to all our supporters around the (world emoji), thank you for your love," he tweeted.

In the match, Afghanistan, after being put into bat, posted a formidable total of 284 runs, primarily fueled by Rahmanullah Gurbaz's impressive innings of 80 runs and Ikram Alikhil's half-century. During England's chase, they were restricted to just 215 runs, with Harry Brook standing out as the lone fighter with 66 runs. 

The pivotal contributions from Afghanistan's Mujeer-Ur-Rahman and Rashid Khan, who claimed three wickets each, played a crucial role in securing the win. Their efforts were complemented by Mohammad Nabi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Notably, as Afghanistan edged closer to victory, the support from the crowd was unmistakably in their favor. The Arun Jaitley Stadium, splendidly adorned for this neutral match, saw the active participation of a few Afghan fans among the spectators.

The passionate Delhi crowd rallied behind Rashid Khan, the most beloved figure on the Afghanistan team. Rashid received a warm reception from the crowd when he came to bat during the first innings, and when he struck his first boundary, the audience erupted in jubilation, a moment surely not lost on Rashid.