At 20 years and 202 days, the Andhra boy became CSK’s youngest-ever opener to debut in the prestigious annual tournament
NEW DELHI – What began as a humble pursuit in the byzantine lanes and by-lanes of the historic city of Hyderabad has transformed into a dream-cum-true for young cricketer Shaik Rasheed.
The young cricketer, at 20 years and 202 days, on Monday became Chennai Super King’s (CSK) youngest-ever opener to debut in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He opened the batting with New Zealander Rachin Ravindra for the CSK in Lucknow on Monday night and scored 27 off 19 balls.
Shaik Rasheed’s cricketing story is one of passion, perseverance, and relentless hard work. Raised in a modest neighbourhood in Hyderabad, Rasheed first picked up a bat playing gully cricket with friends in the narrow streets near his home. With limited resources but unlimited dreams, he honed his skills using tennis balls and homemade stumps, often playing until the sun went down.
Recognising his talent early, his parents and local coaches encouraged him to pursue formal training. Rasheed joined a local cricket academy and quickly climbed the ranks in district-level cricket. His solid technique and calm temperament stood out, earning him a place in the Hyderabad U-16 and later the U-19 state teams.
Rasheed was composed and confident when he walked out with Ravindra on his IPL debut as he always focussed more on mental preparations and adapted quickly to the given conditions rather than worrying too much about the technique.
In domestic cricket, Rasheed has shown his remarkable skills and determination when he scored his maiden Ranji Trophy century (203) against Hyderabad in November 2024 at Uppal.
Cricketing great VVS Laxman encouraged and advised Rasheed at a pivotal moment of his career, during the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies – hold a cricket bat, close your eyes, keep visualising the bowlers whom you are likely to face on the cricket field and do shadow practice.
Rasheed is one of those cricketers who rarely think about individual records and never regretted missing a century (94) in the Under-19 World Cup semifinal. “Team’s interests are my priority,” he often said.
Rasheed belonged to a modest family with poor background. Despite financial struggles, his father’s unwavering support kept his dreams alive.
His journey from the gullies of Hyderabad to the grand arenas of the IPL serves as an inspiration to countless young cricketers across the country.
