Rahmanullah Gurbaz becomes fourth Afghanistan batter with this T20 milestone
Rahmanullah Gurbaz impressed for Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season on Tuesday. The young Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter showcased his brilliance behind the stumps before helping KKR get to a decent start against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Gurbaz scored 23 in a successful chase of 160 and surpassed 4,000 runs in T20 cricket. Here are further details.
4,000 runs for Gurbaz in T20s
Playing his 168th T20 match, Gurbaz got past the 4,000-run mark with his 15th run in the contest. He raced to 4,008 runs at 24.58. Gurbaz's strike rate reads 148.71. He owns 25 fifties and two centuries. 1,376 of his runs in T20 cricket have come for Afghanistan (T20Is) at 25.01. Gurbaz is the fifth-highest scorer for Afghanistan in T20Is.
Fourth Afghan player to clock this milestone
As per ESPNcricinfo, Gurbaz became the fourth Afghan batter to surpass 4,000 T20 runs. He joined Mohammad Nabi (5,811), Mohammad Shahzad (4,418) and Najibullah Zadran (4,105).
A look at Gurbaz's IPL journey
Gurbaz was unsold at the 2022 IPL auction. He was later signed by Gujarat Titans as a replacement for England's Jason Roy. Gurbaz spent the 2022 season on the bench as GT preferred Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade. He was traded to KKR ahead of IPL 2023. Gurbaz scored 227 runs from 11 matches last season (50s: 2). He struck at 133-plus.
Gurbaz impresses against SRH in Qualifier 1
Gurbaz didn't get an opportunity as Phil Salt was tasked to keep and open the batting for KKR. The England international looked solid and mustered 435 runs from 12 matches. With Salt called up by England, it presented Gurbaz with an opportunity. He smashed two fours and two sixes, adding 44 runs alongside Sunil Narine. KKR won Qualifier 1 to reach the final.
