In his second season for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahmanullah Gurbaz does not want to be over-adventurous and instead wants to focus on playing proper cricketing shots. The scoops, lap shots and other fancy stuff can wait as the Afghanistan keeper-batter will try them only when the situation permits.
In last year’s ODI World Cup as well, Gurbaz, who usually opens the innings, had concentrated more on the conventional shots, finishing the competition with 280 runs, including two fifties, at an average of 31.11 with 98.93 being his strike rate.
“You always have to play good cricketing shots. You can’t just keep playing the cheeky ones.
“Yes, you have to have certain options, but as an opener, I must be able to play good cricketing shots. And then in the end, I can try those (cheeky shots) if the team requires,” Gurbaz, eyeing a successful IPL in order to be well prepared for the T20 World Cup in June, said.
“This a great opportunity for us to prepare well for the T20 World Cup, which begins almost straightaway after the IPL. So, in a sense, we’re lucky that the IPL is here as it gives us a good opportunity to be ready for the World Cup,” Gurbaz stated.
The presence of Gautam Gambhir as the Knights’ mentor should help him in sharpening his batting skills, Gurbaz believes. “Gambhir Sir is one of the most experienced people around. So, whenever I need anything, I can go to him and seek his advice.
“At present, I think I am well prepared and I know how to adjust to different conditions. Sometimes in cricket, you do come across stages when you aren’t able to score in some situations. But we have our experienced coaches in KKR who we can go to.”
Being the owner of the most number of international centuries for Afghanistan (seven — six in ODIs, one in T20Is), Gurbaz’s self-confidence is on the rise. Always willing to keep working hard, “nothing is impossible” now for the 22-year-old.
For the needy
As a young boy who aspired to earn name and fame in the game, Gurbaz didn’t have enough money even for his basic cricketing equipment. Those days are still fresh in his memory, and that’s what makes it a priority for him to contribute for the poor and needy, like he had done during last Diwali in Ahmedabad for the homeless and also after the 2023 earthquakes in his country.
Being a good human matters most for Gurbaz. “We all are humans, so we should help each other. In our country, there’s so much poverty, and I too was poor. I didn’t have even 10 rupees with me at one point in time... Didn’t have enough money for my bat and gloves.
“But when you achieve something and are in a position to help people, then you should... So, I always try to help others and make them happy. That’s what my life is about... Because, we all know this life could be over any day.
“For me, this is like an examination which I have to pass well and ensure others too are able to clear it. As for Afghanistan, we know how hard things are there for our people. They need help from us in such times and we should step up,” Gurbaz concluded.
