April 15, 2025: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debutant Shaik Rasheed revealed the nervousness he felt before his first match for the franchise against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday. The young batter, who impressed with his composed performance, was advised by senior players Shivam Dubey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to stay calm, focus on the ball, and show intent.
In a video shared by the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rasheed spoke candidly about his nerves ahead of the match and how the guidance from the two CSK stalwarts helped him find his rhythm.
“I was very nervous. How should I play? The approach is the same. I have to show my intent. Shivam Bhai and Mahi Bhai said the way things keep your body as calm as possible. Don’t look at the audience. Just react to the ball; that’s it,” Rasheed said.
The young batter, who had just made his IPL debut, went on to dedicate his memorable knock to the net bowlers, praising their relentless effort.
“I want to dedicate this knock to the net bowlers. They bowled so well. They put in a lot of effort for me. That’s why I gave it to them,” Rasheed added.
Rasheed’s debut innings turned out to be crucial for CSK, as he scored 27 runs from 19 balls, including six boundaries, helping the team get off to a brisk start while chasing LSG’s target of 167. His 52-run opening partnership with Rachin Ravindra (37 runs from 22 balls) set a solid foundation for the CSK middle-order to build on and eventually chase down the target with ease.
Rasheed, a talented top-order batter, has been a key figure in domestic cricket, playing for Andhra Pradesh. Before his IPL debut, he had featured in 19 First-Class matches, amassing 1204 runs at an impressive average of 37.62. Additionally, he has played 12 List A and 17 T20 matches.
The win was significant for CSK, who were looking to bounce back after a tough run of five consecutive losses in IPL 2025. The team showed resilience and regained their swagger, comfortably chasing down the 167-run target to seal a comprehensive victory over LSG.