The over that saw Shahbaz Ahmed bossing a T20 juggernaut

Probably in an ocean of big names when someone who is still to don the national cap takes on one of the finest monikers in the sport and comes out with flying colors, history gets re-scripted.

In RCB’s opening win against the Knights, one such unheralded moniker changed the complexion of the game completely as he took out Andre Russell for two colossal strikes that charted the course for RCB’s thrilling win.

It was the thirteenth over the game and Andre Russell was summoned to the attack. A young Shahbaz was to face the Caribbean muscleman as he hared in with blood on his mind clearly wasn’t the favorite of this duel. The first ball was a beauty as all Shahbaz could conjure was a straight poke at the backward point.

The following delivery, however, was a no-ball where there was a rotation of strikes and Rutherford was back to the helm of affairs. The Caribbean biffer with the willow in the hand could only stretch himself as far as a single that saw Russell winning the war already.

However, the magic was still to unfold as a young Shahbaz was just getting warmed up. A length ball from Russell was slammed to the stands in a raw illustration of the power that screamed vengeance for what Russell did to Shahbaz during KKR’s batting.

The following ball saw Shahbaz play in a very controlled manner and keep the strike for himself as he was primed for another frenetic swing of his blade. Russell wanted to test the youngster with a short ball and Shahbaz had zero respect whatsoever as he lofted him to the stands in an emphatic statement of grit and gumption.

Probably in a chapter where it was a collective narrative of the entire team coming together to seal the deal for RCB, Shahbaz Ahmed’s bedazzling brilliance would be an important pointer to take notice of.