Even After Rashid Khan has one of the most incredible T20 records in the game, he is constantly looking for ways to get better. He is currently developing some new deliveries but isn’t quite ready to unleash them in the middle.
Enlightening about the same ahead of a likely return to Adelaide Strikers in the BBL., Rashid said, “I do try my best to have different deliveries. At the moment I’m just bowling them in the nets, I haven’t brought that in the game. The slow legspin which I have been working on, I bowled that a couple of times in the PSL and the series against Bangladesh [in February]. It went well, but still I need to have more command over that ball where I can be more effective rather than be someone who gives runs with those deliveries.
“Yes, I do work on new deliveries but I need to have more practice then I can bring them out. At the moment, what I have been doing so far, I think that is working. I will just stick to that for the Asia Cup and World Cup. Consistency is important.
When he has the ball in hand, Rashid, who has 469 T20 wickets at an average of 17.89 and an economy rate of 6.39, concentrates on keeping things straightforward and is mindful of not losing his control by trying excessively. He may have a few new moves, though, after recently experimenting with a slower legbreak.
He continued, “It’s pretty clear in my mind that I should keep it pretty simple. I don’t think a lot about what will happen tomorrow, it’s about what happens today. One thing that is always in my mind is just to hit the right area consistently. I have control of that. As long as I have that in my mind, everything becomes so simple.”
“Definitely if he’s after me it gives me that opportunity where I can take wickets, but at the same time if someone is not taking that risk I’m happy because I’m building up that kind of pressure for the other end,” he said. “It’s not [just] about me taking wickets, sometimes I build up that pressure then from the other end whoever is bowling it’s an opportunity for him to take wickets. We are always planning like that. I shouldn’t be thinking that I’m taking wickets all the time. If I have a good over, the next over is always there to take wickets as well.”
Rashid is such a menace to whichever team he is playing against, teams will frequently choose to reduce the risk they take while he is on the field. He is content if batters try to see him out since he knows he will still be in the game if they choose to attack him, and because the pressure may help his teammates get wickets.
