IPL 2023: He was always keen to learn and perform – Rashid Khan hails Noor Ahmad

Gujarat Titans’ pack leader Rashid Khan has showered praise on compatriot Noor Ahmad after the latter’s impressive spell against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Khan revealed Ahmad is very keen to learn and perform at the top level and he has been asking the right questions in the training sessions.

Rashid Khan started Mumbai Indians’ downfall after the GT posted a mammoth score of 207 runs on the board. The leg-spinner accounted for Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma in the eighth over of the innings.

Subsequently, Ahmad also followed the footsteps of Rashid, dismissing Cameron Green and Tim David in the 11th over he bowled, to leave Mumbai Indians in tatters at 59-5.

The left-arm chinaman also accounted for Suryakumar Yadav, who had scored 23 runs from only 12 balls. Ahmad finished with figures of 3-37 in his quota of four overs and once again impressed with his bowling.

The 18-year-old youngster has scalped six wickets in the three IPL matches he has played so far.

Rashid Khan said after the game, “It’s great to have him in the side and sharing the bowling partnership with him since last year. That kid, he just wants to learn and he’s working so hard. Last year the way he was working, bowling lots in the nets, kept asking questions. Even when I was in the gym, he was coming to the gym and saying, ‘let’s bowl here in the gym.’ At 1 AM, 2 AM he was bowling with me in the gym. He wanted to get better and perform. He got the opportunity now and he’s been delivering. I am so happy for him that he’s delivering. It’s great news for GT and also for Afghanistan.”

On the other hand, Rashid Khan was once again right on the money as he returned with impressive figures of 2-27 in his quota of four overs.

He added, “It’s good so far, few things I am working on to be more consistent with line and length. Happy that I got some wickets but at the same time, need to work on a few areas. Looking forward to the rest of the season as well. Those first 3 overs, managed to keep them quiet. As long as you’re hitting the right areas, I feel it’s pretty hard for the batters to go after. That was in my mind.”

Gujarat Titans will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday.