Shaik Rasheed’s IPL dream comes true

Shaik Rasheed became another Telugu-speaking cricketer to make his debut in IPL when he opened the batting with New Zealander Rachin Ravindra for the Chennai Super Kings in Lucknow on Monday night.

- VV SUBRAHMANYAM

And, the 20-year-old Andhra cricketer made a pretty fluent start (27, 19b, 6x4) before pacer Avesh Khan got rid of him, but not before Rasheed made another big step closer to realising his ultimate dream of playing at the highest level.

Interestingly, Rasheed started playing gully cricket in Dilsukhnagar when he was just eight and even played for Sportive Cricket Club in the HCA League. ‘And his passion for the game took him to the next level when he moved over to Guntur with his family.