"When I think about that game, my body just changes" - Rashid Khan reflects on Glenn Maxwell's knock in 2023 WC game against Afghanistan
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has suggested that he still has nightmares about Glenn Maxwell's 2023 World Cup knock against them at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The 25-year-old has claimed that the spin-bowling all-rounder played an unbelievable knock but his body reacts differently when thinking about it.
With Australia set 292 to chase after Ibrahim Zadran's century, the Afghanistan bowlers left the five-time champions reeling at 91-7. However, Glenn Maxwell's intervention meant that Australia stunned Afghanistan as the all-rounder hammered an unbeaten 201 off 128 despite his cramps to lead their side to a win.
During a recent interview with ICC, Rashid stated:
"At night, whenever I'm going to sleep, sometimes I do think about that game. It just comes in the mind. Sometimes when I think about that game, my body just changes. That was an unbelievable knock, one of the best innings we have ever seen."
The 35-year-old Aussie all-rounder also enjoyed some slices of luck that night. He survived an overturned lbw decision against Noor Ahmad, followed by Mujeeb-ur-Rahman dropping a simple chance at short fine leg.
"I've got to play the strengths that I have a bit more often" - Glenn Maxwell
With Maxwell yet to deliver his best knock in T20 World Cup 2024, the veteran all-rounder asserted that he has been guilty of not playing to his strengths. The right-hander added:
"Over the last few games, I've been a little bit tentative ... trying to poke way into a gap and get a one. (But) I've got to play the strengths that I have a bit more often. Sometimes your mind can start to play a few tricks on you ... you start to look at previous scores. But at this stage of the tournament, I've just gone back to what I do really well. And hopefully that holds me in good stead."
Australia beat Bangladesh by 28 runs in their first Super 8 fixture, while Afghanistan lost to India by 47 runs.