“Well Played, Shaik”: Harbhajan Singh Lauds CSK Debutant After Confident Knock
CSK's young opener Shaik Rasheed impressed on debut and earned praise from Harbhajan Singh for his composed batting.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally broke their five-match losing streak with a solid win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow. While MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 26 off 11 balls and Shivam Dube’s 43* were vital in the chase of 167 runs, it was CSK’s young debutant Shaik Rasheed who set the tone early with a calm and confident start.
Opening the innings for the first time in IPL 2025, the 20-year-old Shaik Rasheed scored a quick 27 runs off just 19 balls. He struck six boundaries and added a 52-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra in only 4.5 overs. This was Chennai’s best opening stand of the season, and it gave them the early momentum they needed.
Rasheed’s fearless batting and shot selection drew praise from former CSK player and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh. The legendary bowler appreciated the youngster’s maturity and composed approach.
“Well played, Shaik. He didn’t play a bad shot before getting out. The best part about his innings was that he didn’t give a chance to any bowler. He will get more chances in the season,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan also advised Rasheed to stick to his own batting style and not follow others blindly. His words come as strong encouragement for the young cricketer, who has been part of the CSK setup for a while now and finally got his opportunity on the big stage.
With Rahul Tripathi struggling for runs and the overseas duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway not firing consistently, the Chennai team management took a bold step by giving Rasheed a chance at the top. The youngster grabbed the opportunity with both hands and made a positive impact.
CSK fans will now look forward to seeing more of Shaik Rasheed this season, as the team looks to climb back up the points table with a balanced mix of youth and experience.
