GT Vs KKR: Rashid Khan Takes First Hattrick Of IPL 2023
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans stand-in-skipper Rashid Khan became the first player to take a hattrick in the ongoing IPL 2023 on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The Afghan spinner dismissed Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur of Kolkata Knight Riders to achieve the feat.
With his feat, Rashid also became the fourth player to take a hattrick against the two-time champions in the history of the league. Makhaya Ntini (CSK), Pravin Tambe (RR) and Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) have taken hattricks against KKR earlier.
.@rashidkhan_19 Hat-trick!
That was simply sensational!
Follow the match https://t.co/G8bESXjTyh#TATAIPL | #GTvKKR | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/sSpYyFcO3S
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2023
Rashid’s hat-trick is the first hat-trick for Gujarat Titans in IPL. He also becomes the player with most T20 hattricks – four. Andrew Tye, Mohammad Sami, Amit Mishra, Andre Russell and Imran Tahir, all have three T20 hattricks to their name.
Kolkata needed 29 runs off the final over for an unlikely win against Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After Umesh Yadav took a single off Yash Dayal, carnage followed as Rinku smashed five successive sixes on the last five balls over wide long-off, backward square leg and long-off, followed by clearing long-on fence twice.
“It was more about bowling the ball that he was comfortable with. Rinku played some unbelievable shots. He tried his best deliveries but it did not work. Credit goes to the batter the way he finished,” said Rashid in the post-match presentation ceremony.
“Just keep it simple. Hit the right area consistently. If you miss your lengths, you saw what happened. As a bowler, I am always trying my best to hit the right areas,” he told about his bowling.