The DP World ILT20 wrapped up a few weeks ago, and while our Gulf Giants didn't clinch the title, we had a commendable season, making it to the Playoffs. Many of our players have been staying busy, transitioning from the ILT20 to international matches and now into the Indian T20 League.
Let's take a closer look at how they have been performing:
Shimron Hetmyer: Although he hasn't had many opportunities to bat for Rajasthan in the ongoing Indian T20 League, he's made crucial contributions whenever he has come out to bat. In a crucial game against Bengaluru, Hetmyer scored 11 important runs, guiding Rajasthan to their fourth consecutive victory. Against Delhi, he smashed a quickfire 14 off just 7 balls. In the match against Mumbai, he showcased his fielding skills by taking a brilliant catch of Piyush Chawla.
Gerhard Erasmus: The captain of Namibia has been in excellent form after the ILT20, especially in the international circuit. He kicked off with a remarkable 5-wicket haul against Nepal in an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match. Erasmus didn't stop there; he continued his stellar performance, grabbing 3 wickets against Netherlands in the next game. With the bat, he played a crucial innings, scoring a vital 50 runs and also chipping in with a wicket. He ended the tournament with another 3-wicket haul against Netherlands.
After this, in a 5-match T20I series against Oman, Erasmus maintained his form, taking 3 wickets in the second T20I and scoring a brilliant 58 runs. In the fourth T20I, he picked up 2 wickets while conceding only 17 runs.
Aayan Afzal Khan: Our young talent, Aayan Afzal Khan, showcased his skills with both bat and ball in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament. He started off strongly by scoring 38 runs and picking up 2 wickets in a match against Canada. He continued his batting form in the next game against Scotland, remaining unbeaten on 45. Against Canada, he played a vital role with the ball, claiming 2 crucial wickets. In the subsequent T20I series against Scotland, Aayan impressed again, taking 5 wickets across 3 games.
Despite the varied results, our players have been putting in commendable performances across different formats, and we're excited to see their continued growth and success in the future.