Shadow trend on social media – Rashid Khan should have got player of the match (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Scoring a century in T20 cricket is a big deal. Hundred means guaranteed to become a hero. Earn the license to be the player of the match. The same happened in the victory of Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans. Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged Player of the Match for his century. But, then the question arose that the real deserving of this award was Rashid Khan.
Player of the match Suryakumar Yadav or Rashid Khan, there was a debate on Twitter about this. Apart from some former cricketers, cricket fans were also involved in the debate. Before getting acquainted with their reactions, just look at the performance of Suryakumar and Rashid to know why this debate has arisen.
Read here: Suryakumar’s unique story of centuries!
Suryakumar Yadav vs Rashid Khan: Performance in the match
Mumbai batted first in the match. Suryakumar Yadav played a fiery inning of 103 runs off 49 balls. This century took Mumbai to a huge score of 218.
When Surya was writing the script of the explosive century. At the same time, Rashid Khan was breaking the back of the rest of the Mumbai batsmen with the ball. He took 4 wickets for 30 runs in 4 overs with the ball. Had the matter been limited to this, Suryakumar would have been the only one entitled to the Player of the Match award.
But after this Rashid Khan also sowed poison with the bat. Chasing the target of 219 runs from Mumbai, Rashid Khan’s storm was seen. He hit 79 not out off only 32 balls with 10 sixes and 3 fours. Even after this blast of Rashid, Mumbai definitely won the match by 27 runs, but this Afghan player won the heart.
Player of the match was Rashid, not Suryakumar!
Now the real hero is the one who wins the heart. After seeing this all-round game of Rashid Khan, former Indian cricketer S. Badrinath tweeted that, “Player of the match for me today is Rashid Khan. What an amazing performance he has given.
Rashid Khan is my man of the match for tonight! What an incredible all round performance #MIvGT @rashidkhan_19
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 12, 2023
Sports commentator Sunil Taneja also tweeted that, “If Suryakumar Yadav was unmatched then Rashid Khan was unbelievable.” According to me, both should have jointly given the player of the match.
The Man of the Match award should have been a combined one. SKY was amazing but Rashid was exceptional.
— Sunil Taneja 🇮🇳 (@iSunilTaneja) May 12, 2023
A cricket fan even apologized to Suryakumar Yadav and called Rashid Khan the player of the match. This fan also got the support of another fan, who found that Rashid Khan should have got the player of the match for his fighting spirit.
Sorry Suryakumar Yadav 🙏🏿 but Rashid Khan should get man of the match, first took 4fer on road like pitch & then made brill6 fifty from difficult situation👏
Whatta cricketer @rashidkhan_19
— ` Frustrated CSKian (@kurkureter) May 12, 2023
Rashid Khan is truly a fighter. He really deserves man of the match award for his brilliant innings.👏👏👍👍#MIvsGT pic.twitter.com/8uaSk2dMSF
— Sachin Jerry (@jerrysachin219) May 12, 2023
Let us tell you that many such examples have been seen in IPL 2023, where the player of the losing team has also got the player of the match. And, the same trend should have been followed in this match as well.
IPL this year had started to give POTM to players from the losing side, and they should have done it today also.
SKY played an outstanding knock, but look at what Rashid has done. 4/30 on this pitch is gold dust, and then he hits the most sixes in the game. https://t.co/XMelYEHpCX
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) May 12, 2023
It is clear that this debate on social media has now become long that who is the player of the match? Suryakumar Yadav’s blazing century is a big deal from the point of view of T20 cricket. But, the way Rashid Khan fought alone for his team, the truth is that it also cannot be ignored.
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