Gurbaz Chooses KKR Over Personal Crisis, Plays Despite Mother's Illness In IPL 2024

Ahmedabad, May 22 (PTI): Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz made a challenging decision to leave his ailing mother in the hospital when his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) called him for a crucial playoff match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Gurbaz considers the team as his "family" and felt compelled to join them.

In his first game of the season, Gurbaz played a significant role in KKR's victory over SRH by taking two important catches and providing a strong start with a 14-ball 23 on Tuesday. He replaced Englishman Phil Salt at the top and helped the two-time champions secure an eight-wicket win, advancing to the IPL final.

"As a cricketer, you need to know what to do. In league cricket, only a few players can play. If there is an opportunity for you, you should do your best. If there's no opportunity, you should be well prepared for it," Gurbaz told the media after the match.

Gurbaz shared that his mother is still unwell. He returned home but received a call from KKR informing him that Phil Salt was leaving. "They called and messaged me saying 'Gurbaz, we need you, and what is your feedback for us?' I said, 'yes, I will come'. My mom is still in hospital, and I'm always talking to her, but this is also my family. I should manage both my mom and my KKR family. It's hard, it's tough, but still, I need to manage it," he added.

SRH skipper Pat Cummins' decision to bat first did not work out as planned. Gurbaz mentioned that KKR had intended to bowl first had they won the toss. "We all decided that we should bowl first because in this kind of moment, and against a team like Sunrisers that have a strong batting side, you should know the total and then go for it," he said.

KKR's bowling effort was commendable as they restricted SRH to 160 runs. "We bowled really well. To get a team like Sunrisers all out on 160 was a bowling effort. Once we came to bat, we aimed to win the powerplay," he explained.

Gurbaz praised KKR pacer Mitchell Starc for his exceptional performance. Starc took three wickets in the powerplay, setting up the game for KKR. "He was just unbelievable. The way he bowled today, he's one of the best. He has a lot of experience and knows how to manage big games. I saw him today totally different than other games," he said.

Afghanistan's Preparation for T20 World Cup

Gurbaz highlighted that Afghanistan players are preparing well for the T20 World Cup next month. He emphasised that franchise cricket comes second to representing their country. "It's all about hard work. It doesn't matter where you come from; if you work hard, it helps in every situation," he stated.

"Afghanistan is not the same Afghanistan. We know what to do and how to represent our country. Everything is good for cricket there, and we played really well in the last World Cup. From the last six-seven years, Afghanistan is doing great," he added.

Gurbaz reiterated that their primary focus is always on performing well for their country before considering league cricket opportunities. "Our mindset is always to do something better for our country first; then come the leagues. If you do good for your country, all leagues will pick you," he concluded.