'Hadn't taken a wicket in last seven international games': Shadab Khan opens up on realities of struggle in cricket

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan who recently featured in the T20 World Cup 2024 was dropped from the Pakistan squad because of his bad form. Shadab featured in Pakistan's all three outings of the World Cup but could not pick any wickets. Now, the 25-year-old got his mojo back in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL). He picked up 16 wickets including a hattrick against Kandy Falcons. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. 

The cricketer opened up on his rough patch saying that he was struggling for three months but now in the ongoing LPL, the pitch is helping him to get the breakthroughs.

“I was struggling for three months. I hadn't taken a wicket in the last seven international games. I came here, started bowling and am now always taking wickets. That is the beauty of cricket. You have to enjoy these types of scenarios as well... sometimes you perform, sometimes you don't. But the process that you follow has to be consistent,” Shadab said, as quoted from a press release by LPL.

ALSO READ: India's outgoing batting coach Vikram Rathour names two players who can replace Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and become team's ‘backbone’

“The pitch was helping us as it was a bit slow and gripping a bit... But T20 cricket is very hard nowadays, as 200 is easily changeable. As a spinner, you have to have your variations because on flat tracks, if you don't have variations, you can go for runs. But if you have variation, you can take wickets as well as contain runs. So that is very important, and it is also important that you land it in a good area,” he added.

The 25-year-old stated his intention to contribute as an all-rounder across all departments of the game for his franchise, the Colombo Strikers.

ALSO READ: 'It was all about Kohli, ABD and Gayle': Parthiv Patel exposes RCB as he says there is no team culture in IPL franchise

"I am performing for my team, and that is a good sign. I am the main bowler, and if I am taking wickets, that is a positive sign for me and my team. I want to contribute in all three phases. So far, I am contributing in two as a bowler and fielder. Hopefully, I can contribute with the bat too," Shadab concluded.

Shadab's franchise Colombo Strikers have qualified for the playoffs of the tournament. However, the Pakistan all-rounder is yet to perform with the bat to win the title. 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK:

Gautam Gambhir makes first request from senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah after becoming head coach
BCCI wants Test specialists to play Duleep Trophy 2024 ahead of home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand: Report
'You should just put your head down': Ex-Pakistan cricketer slams Shaheen Shah Afridi for misbehaving with Mohammad Yousuf
‘No idea about captaincy looks clueless...’: Indian spinner lashes out on Shubman Gill's captaincy ahead of Sri Lanka