Every Player Has Dream Of Playing Under MS Dhoni, But Playing For Gujarat Is An Honour Now: Rashid Khan

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan will be playing for a new franchise in Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL 2022 edition. However, he said that like every player, he also dreamt of playing under MS Dhoni, but now the Hardik Pandya-led GT was his dream team.

The newly minted Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans had drafted the Afghan leg-spinner for a whopping INR 15 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. Rashid had made his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2017 and since then, has picked 93 wickets in 76 matches with an economy of 6.33 and best bowling figures of 3/7.

Rashid Khan labeled playing for Gujarat Titans as a “different experience”, but shared his dream of playing under the mercurial MS Dhoni as well.

He told reporters in a virtual press conference from his quarantine room: “I have come to Gujarat now, so this is my dream team and I will try to give my best performance here. I am playing for Gujarat and it’s a huge honour for me being in this team. Playing under Hardik Pandya will be a different experience. He will be leading the team for the first time, so I am really looking forward to that.”

“Every player has a dream of playing under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. But like I said, I am in Gujarat and it’s a huge honour for me to be playing for the Gujarat Titans.”

More than watching a 10-team IPL, with the Lucknow Super Giants being the other new side, the cricketing fraternity is intrigued to see how Hardik Pandya goes about captaincy.

Things I Have In My Mind, Will Definitely Be Sharing With Hardik Pandya: Rashid Khan On Helping The New Captain at Gujarat Titans

Rashid Khan also spoke about playing under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and how he will help the young Indian all-rounder who is leading a team for the first time at this level. Rashid has played under the captaincy of David Warner and Kane Williamson for SRH and himself captained Afghanistan in ODIs, T20Is, and in their maiden Test win as well.

“I have played all around the world with different captains, have captained myself as well for Afghanistan. The kind of experience and things I have in my mind, will definitely be sharing with him. I am really looking forward to having those discussions with him, seeing him, [learning] his mindset and thinking as well,” Rashid said in response to a Sportskeeda query.

GT will face off against fellow debutants Lucknow Super Giants in the MCA stadium in Pune on March 28 in IPL 2022.

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