Afghanistan‘s star bowler Rashid Khan has etched his name in the record books by becoming the second player to achieve 600 wickets in T20 cricket. The milestone was reached during a game in the 2024 The Hundred men’s competition, where Rashid played for Trent Rockets against Manchester Originals.
Key Achievements
Rashid Khan, renowned for his exceptional leg-spin bowling, took two wickets in the match, conceding only 24 runs in 20 balls, including 10 dot balls. His efforts were instrumental in securing a narrow one-run victory for Trent Rockets after defending a total of 145 runs.
Historical Context
With this feat, Rashid joins an elite club of bowlers who have excelled in the T20 format. He trails only West Indies‘ Dwayne Bravo, who holds the record with 630 T20 wickets. Additionally, only two other bowlers have surpassed the 500-wicket mark in T20 cricket: Sunil Narine (557) and Imran Tahir (502).
Stellar Statistics
Since his debut in 2015, Rashid Khan has amassed 600 wickets from 441 T20 matches, maintaining a remarkable bowling average of 18.25—the best among players with over 400 wickets in the format. His economy rate stands at an impressive 6.47, and he has recorded 14 four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls.
International Success
Rashid has also been a standout performer in T20 Internationals, claiming 152 wickets for Afghanistan and the ICC, boasting an exceptional bowling average of 14.13. No other Afghan bowler has reached the 100-wicket mark in T20Is.
IPL Impact
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rashid has been a key wicket-taker. He has taken 149 wickets in 121 matches with an average of 21.82. His performance was pivotal in Gujarat Titans‘ IPL 2022 title win, where he took 19 wickets at an average of 22.15. Prior to joining the Titans, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2017 to 2021.
Batting Prowess
Beyond his bowling, Rashid has proven to be a capable batsman, particularly as a pinch-hitter. His T20 strike rate of 146.10 underscores his ability to score quickly, and he has notched up four T20 fifties in his career.
Future Prospects
At just 25 years old, Rashid Khan’s dominance in T20 cricket shows no signs of waning. His skillful googlies and consistent performances make him one of the most formidable bowlers in the format. Given his youth and talent, there is a strong possibility that he could reach the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 T20 wickets, potentially becoming the greatest bowler in the history of T20 cricket.
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