Over the last few years, Afghanistan has emerged to become a force to reckon in T20Is. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag is mighty impressed by a certain batter. With some world-class spinners and all-rounders in their side, the Afghans are now making splashes in the shortest format. The 2021 T20 World Cup saw a glimpse of the might of the Asian side.
While Afghanistan failed to get past the likes of Pakistan, New Zealand and India, they put up a strong fight. Mohammed Nabi and Co. finished fourth in the group, with two wins in their kitty, as they lost their final league game to the Kiwis. Although they lost, Najibullah Zadran‘s gem of an innings was the silver lining for the side.
Virender Sehwag bats for an IPL contract for Najibullah Zadran
Najibullah Zadran played a scintillating knock of 73 off just 48 balls while none of his teammates managed to cross 15. If not for his gritty innings, Afghanistan wouldn’t have held on to the total till the 18th over. While Zadran didn’t have a very good tournament, he showed his class in the final game.
Virender Sehwag feels that an IPL contract is round the corner for Zadran who put up a phenomenal show on what seemed like a difficult wicket. Sehwag went on to point out the fact he rose to the occasion against one of the best bowling lineups in the world and that warrants praise for the 28-year-old.
“I have played alongside him in T10 League so I was expecting such a knock from him. He is brilliant against both pace and spin and I feel an IPL contract is just around the corner for him,” Sehwag was quoted as saying on Cricbuzz Live.
“It looked like he (Najibullah Zadran) was batting on a completely different track compared to other Afghanistan batters. He cashed in brilliantly against the spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. Even in Neesham’s first over, he smashed a couple of boundaries,” he said.
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