'My mother is still recovering in the hospital... But I knew my KKR family needed me': Rahmanullah Gurbaz after KKR reach IPL 2024 final

IPL 2024 Qualifier 1: Afghan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz played his first match of the season and contributed with a cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

SportsTak Desk

• Wed • 22 May 2024

KKR's Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the press conference (Screengrab: KKR, X)

Highlights:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit two sixes in his cameo.

Gurbaz replaced Phil Salt in the side for IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 clash.

When an in-form Phil Salt left the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp for national duty ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs, there was a concern over his replacement. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz who had not played a single game of the season joined KKR but there were doubts whether he will be able to fill Salt’s big shoes as the latter was their second-highest run-scorer in the season. But Gurbaz made the opportunity count with a fiery cameo to get the run chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) underway. After the comprehensive eight-wicket win, Gurbaz revealed that his mother is still recovering in the hospital back home.

“My mother is still recovering in the hospital, I speak to her every day. But I knew my KKR family needed me here once Phil Salt left. So I came back from Afghanistan, and I'm happy to be here. My mother is happy for me too,” Gurbaz said in the post-match press conference.

Gurbaz’s electrifying cameo

In the run chase of 160, Gurbaz got off the mark with a boundary against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In the second over, he made up for the dot deliveries by hitting SRH captain Pat Cummins for a maximum. He smashed a six and a four off Bhuvneshwar's wicket. In the fourth over, his cameo came to an end. He lost his wicket to left-arm pacer T Natarajan. The opener scored 23 runs from 14 balls and got KKR off to a blazing start.

Iyer praises Gurbaz

Skipper Shreyas Iyer lauded Gurbaz for his cameo as he said in the post-match presentation: “It was Gurbaz's first game and he gave an impactful start.”

Gurbaz was impressive behind the wickets as well. He took the catches of Nitish Reddy and Cummins.

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KKR will now face the winner of the Qualifier 2 in the IPL 2024 final at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 26.