Chennai, Apr 11 (Agency) Young and upcoming talent Shaik Rasheed of Andhra Pradesh today said it was his dream to share dressing roomwith iconic Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper M.S.Dhoni and there are no words to describe it. In a chat with reporters, the 18-year-old leggie from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, who was included in the CSK squad from the Emerging Players’ Category after the CSK bought him for USD 20,000 for the 2023 season, Rasheed said he was the first cricketer from his village in Guntur to playfor the IPL. Shaik made his first class debut for Andhra Pradesh against Services inthe 2021–22 Ranji Trophy and made his T20 debut in October 2022, for Andhra Pradesh against Nagaland in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was also named as the Vice-captain in the India’s squad for the 2022Under-19 Cricket World Cup. His contributions with the bat, especially in both semi-final and final, helped India win the U-19 World Cup. The CSK batter spoke on a number of topics ranging from his cricket journey, being the first cricketer from his village to play the IPL, to sharing dressing room with Dhoni and more.
Excerpts from the conversation :On his cricket journey: When I was starting to play cricket, we did not have much money and my father was suffering with his job. We shifted to Guntur and struggled a lot. After that, the Andhra Cricket Association supported me well. I started my game when I was seven years old. I was born in Guntur, butmy dad’s job was in Hyderabad and then we shifted back to Guntur. On learnings in the IPL : I am improving a lot here and I am trying to learn how to stay cool. I am learning how I go through my journey towards my target in cricket. I am learning and processing well. On the person he speaks to in the CSK dressing room the most : I talk more to batters and Ajinkya Rahane is very close. I usually speak to Rahane. On MS Dhoni :It was my dream to share the dressing room with Dhoni bhai.
To get my CSK jersey from him is a very special moment. There are no words todescribe the moment. On his cricket role model : I like England cricketer Joe Root . I like the way he uses his backfoot toplay. I like his bat swing and bat tapping a lot. On being the first cricketer from his village to be selected in IPL :Lovely. It feels incredible. My family and everyone were celebrating a lot. There is a lot of support from the Guntur Association. Feels good and afterthis I am going to play even better. I want to make Andhra proud, India proud and moreover Chennai proud by playing. On being patient for his opportunity in CSK : Yes, I need to be patient and I still need to learn right now. And when I get the chance, I need to implement what I learn. Right now I need to focus onmy process. What I am doing now is the process. I need to work on my process and if I get the chance, I will implement it and play good cricket.