'Playing in IPL final was a dream, it is coming true': Shahbaz, Abhishek after match-winning roles in Qualifier 2

The spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma played a match-winning role as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reached the IPL 2024 final with a 36-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier 2 on Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Shahbaz took three wickets for 23 in four overs while Abhishek returned figures of 2/24 in his full quota.

The stingy bowling from the spinners after the end of the powerplay and till the start of the death overs played a major role in RR failing to up the ante while chasing 176 as they were restricted to just 139/7.

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Shahbaz was named the Player of the Match as SRH reached the IPL final for the first time in six years.

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After the match, the left-arm spinner said he was proud of his performance but will only celebrate after the final.

“The captain and coach told me depending on the situation we will use you, my role was to bat lower down the order and they said if we collapse we will send you. When I was batting, I felt that this wicket had something and the way Avesh and Sandeep bowled showed. I’m feeling proud of having got the Man of the Match in such a game, the atmosphere is quite relaxed in the camp. We will celebrate only after winning the final, tonight we will just relax,” he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

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Another left-arm spinner, Abhishek, was the bigger surprise package as the opener is known more for his batting skills. The Qualifier 2 was the first time he was asked to bowl after six matches.

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The Punjab cricketer credited SRH captain Pat Cummins for showing confidence in him and shared how he has always been working hard on his bowling.

“To be honest I didn’t know it would be this match (where I would bowl all 4 overs), but I was ready. I have been working on my bowling,” he said.

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“I have been batting well in the last 2 years but it was my bowling that I had to work on and I did it with my dad. It (the pitch) was quicker when we were batting and it started to turn in the second innings, Patty used the spinners well. It was the pressure I have put in all the (practice) sessions that he (Cummins) gave me bowling today. We won the SMAT with Punjab and the momentum came from that, I was ready and worked hard. The message was simple - they gave us the freedom to go and express ourselves. It was one of my dreams to play in the IPL final and it is coming true.”