By Admin 
When the experienced pace spearhead of the opposition you’ve scored runs against appreciates your innings, it’s a good measure of your performance.
Tamil Nadu’s Sandeep Warrier tipped his hat off to Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed, who played the lone ranger with an unbeaten 87 (150b, 8×4, 2×6) in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match here on Sunday. “The wicket is actually not that easy, to be honest. Scoring runs is not that easy. Rasheed played an extraordinary innings,” said Warrier.
“Actually, the wicket was tricky with seam movement. So, I just looked to play straight, and not across the line. Looked to play close to the body as well.”
Rasheed.
| Photo Credit:
K.R. DEEPAK
The 21-year-old has been prolific this season, having scored 375 in four innings with two hundreds and a fifty. Thanks to three unbeaten innings, he averages a staggering 375!
Asked if he worked on anything specific pre-season, he said: “I worked on my mindset. I trained my mind to play for longer periods — to bat through the day. And I practice visualization. It’s really helpful.”
Andhra coach Gary Stead has impressed upon him the importance of consistency. “After I scored 136 in the first match (against Uttar Pradesh), he told me: ‘This is not the end. If you keep following your routine and maintain consistency, everyone will talk about you!’” he said.
Rasheed, who looks up to Joe Root, is a busy batter like him in terms of collecting singles. “I like to run a lot,” he simply put it.