IPL 2024: “I just backed myself,” says KKR’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi after record-breaking feat against DC
The young KKR batter became the youngest player to score a 50 on debut in the IPL
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Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi became the youngest player to score a half-century in his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut when he smashed a 27-ball 54 that helped the Kolkata Knight Riders post a daunting 272/7 in their 20 overs against the Delhi Capitals.
At just 18 years and 303 days, Raghuvanshi pipped Shreevats Goswami, who held the record for being the youngest player on debut to score a half-century. In the inaugural season in 2008, Goswami, who was 19 years and 1 day old, scored 52.
The Delhi-born batter, playing for KKR in the IPL, took just 25 balls to reach his maiden half-century, and it was the second-fastest fifty scored in a maiden IPL innings. James Hopes scored a 24-ball half-century on his debut in 2008.
Batting with a strike rate of 200, Raghuvanshi hit five fours and three sixes in his knock before being caught by Ishant Sharma in the deep third region off Anrich Nortje.
Raghuvanshi’s plan was just simple - watch the ball and back your instincts. “When I went in to bat, I just watched the ball—that’s it. With the amount of practice, I just backed myself,” he said after his innings.
Raghuvanshi and Sunil Narine added 104 runs in just 48 balls for the second wicket. Narine scored a career-best 85 off just 39 balls, with seven fours and as many sixes. Raghuvanshi had the best seat in the entire ground watching Narine send the Delhi Capitals bowlers on a leather hunt. “Watching Narine is box-office stuff, it is so much fun,” Raghuvanshi added.
KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer lauded Raghuvanshi’s work ethic and said his analysis of the match situation sets him apart. “He was fearless from ball one. His work ethic is phenomenal. He analyses situations well. He is a smart batter, shots were pleasing to the eye,” he said after KKR’s win.
