Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the young wicketkeeper-batsman from Afghanistan, made headlines on Saturday after he notched up the highest individual score by an Afghan player in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujrat Titans, Gurbaz scored a scintillating 81 off just 39 deliveries, which included 5 fours and 7 sixes. His innings helped KKR post a challenging total of 179/7 on the board.
However, the Afghanistani opener got very little support from the other end; otherwise KKR would have posted more than 200 runs on the board. Besides Gurbaz, only Andre Russell has contributed significantly and helped his team post a respectable total on the board. Jamaican All-Rounder has played a sizzling inning of 34 in 19 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.
Gurbaz, who made his IPL debut this season, has been in fine form with the bat, scoring 183 runs in 6 matches at an average of 30.50. The 21-year-old, who is known for his aggressive strokeplay, has also impressed with his wicketkeeping skills.
Speaking about his innings, Gurbaz said, “I’m really happy to have contributed to the team’s success today. It was a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent, and I’m glad I was able to deliver.”
KKR will be hoping that Gurbaz continues his good form as they look to qualify for the playoffs in this year’s IPL.
