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Xtra Time Web Desk: During a group clash against SRH on Sunday, Gujarat Titans' vice-captain Rashid Khan surpassed Mohammed Shami's wicket tally to become GT's highest wicket-taker in IPL history. Rashid claimed his 49th IPL wicket for GT by dismissing Heinrich Klaasen for 24. Despite Klaasen's aggressive batting, notably hitting two sixes off Noor Ahmed's final over, his ongoing struggles against Rashid Khan were evident. Historically, Klaasen has found it challenging to face Rashid, maintaining a strike-rate of just 77 against him. This trend persisted as Rashid deceived Klaasen with a deceptive fullish delivery, crashing into the stumps and ending Klaasen's innings after only 13 balls.

Rashid, has been pivotal for the team since joining them in the IPL 2022 mega-auction for Rs 15 crore. His journey with GT began after a successful stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he debuted in 2017. Known for his right-arm leg spin, Rashid has consistently been a formidable force on the field, contributing significantly to the team's success.

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Although Hyderabad started promisingly at 58/1 after the powerplay, Travis Head's good form, they lost wickets at crucial moments, breaking their momentum. The Titans' strategic shift towards slower deliveries later in the innings effectively contained the run flow of SRH. Additionally, including an extra spin option like Washington Shundar could exploit the spin-friendly pitch conditions. With 162 runs on the board, SRH understood the importance of defending diligently.

With Rashid Khan's ability to dismantle opposition batting lineups with his spin, SRH possesses a potent weapon to counter the opposition's chase.

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