Mumbai: Talented leg-spinner, Adil Rashid has proved to be a sensation for the English team. His 16 wickets in the Test so far has proved the above statement. He surpassed all expectations in his performance against India.
Diverting the accolades to the team, elicits the camaraderie he shares. He chooses to keep his head low in the heavy gush of praises.
“I never looked up for any praise from media or anybody. I just keep my head down and concentrate in the nets and work hard. Obviously, you go out there and give your 100 per cent. If wickets come, they come, if they don’t then (it’s not) big deal,” Rashid said at the media conference after the opening day’s play.
“We had to really work as a team. We had to stick to our plans. We had certain plans for certain players and we had to really look to nail it. We knew we might not get rewards straightaway but if we stick to our plans we might get the rewards in the last session and that’s what happened,” Rashid added with the utmost confidence about collective effort.
“We are confident of having that belief that you can get all the best players in the world out. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t. At the moment it’s going ok so far,” he explains.
Restricting India to 271 has paved way for more laurels for England.
“We will take that at the end of the day. Probably, we bowled exceptionally well as a team. We stuck to our plans and we got rewards at the end of the session. They got a little partnership but you know it happens in cricket that can happen. But we will come back tomorrow and come over.”
He did not forget to mention the efforts of all-rounder Ben Stokes for getting the prize wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli.
“It was a big wicket and we all know that he (Kohli) is a class player. To get him on 60-odd (62), you know we have set our plans. For Stoksey (Stokes) to get (Kohli), there has been bit of a friction between the two (referring to their exchanges). But it shows the class of Stoksey. He really runs in and gives his 100 per cent and gets rewards.”
Being questioned about India getting a few runs with the second new ball, he says, “Not really. Obviously both the batsmen were in. They were playing a few shots, looking to be attacking and the pitch is still good so even a length ball, you can just go on the front foot and drive through and hit fours.”
It was as good as the day got for England!