Rahmanullah Gurbaz left his hospitalized mother’s bedside in Afghanistan to play a crucial role in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) advance to the IPL final.
In his first appearance this season, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman scored a vital 23 off 14 balls, aiding Kolkata in their successful chase of 160 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Gurbaz returned to the team after Phil Salt left to prepare for England’s T20 World Cup campaign. Despite his mother’s ongoing illness, Gurbaz felt compelled to support his team. “My mom is still sick. I went back to Afghanistan,” he said. “But I knew KKR was also my family. They needed me here, so I came back.”
Having flown home to be with his mother, Gurbaz rejoined KKR when they needed him most. His quickfire innings, featuring two fours and two sixes, set the pace for Kolkata’s chase, completed in just 13.4 overs, securing their fourth IPL final berth. Additionally, he took two catches as Hyderabad were bowled out for 159, with Mitchell Starc claiming 3-34.
Though he has had limited playtime in the IPL, Gurbaz brings substantial experience with 55 T20 caps for Afghanistan and will be a key player in the upcoming World Cup. For now, his focus is on Sunday’s IPL final in Chennai, with his “first priority” being KKR. Hyderabad still has a chance to reach the final when they face the winner of Wednesday’s game between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
