Gurbaz’s Dilemma: Family vs. Team

In early May, Rahmanullah Gurbaz faced a difficult decision when he had to return home to be with his ailing mother. The 22-year-old, taking a short break from the Indian Premier League (IPL), received an urgent message from his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), about Phil Salt’s unavailability for the Playoffs. Although his mother remained hospitalized, Gurbaz chose to rejoin KKR for the crucial knockouts. Balancing his responsibilities to both his family and team was challenging, but he felt compelled to manage the situation.

A Tough Decision to Make

“My mom is still sick. I went there and got a call from here when Phil Salt was leaving. They messaged me, ‘Gurbaz, we need you’ and what’s your feedback for us? I said, yes, I will come. My mom is still in Aspatal (hospital), and I’m always talking to her. This is also my family; I must manage my mom and KKR family. It’s hard, it’s tough, but I still need to manage,” said Gurbaz at the post-match press conference.

Staying Prepared on the Sidelines

Before the Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), KKR was the only team to maintain the same opening combination, which led to Gurbaz warming the bench despite being retained before the auction. Phil Salt, who replaced Jason Roy, had a stellar season, scoring 435 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 185. Gurbaz, though on the sidelines, stayed prepared for his chance to contribute.

The Importance of the Right Mindset

“As a cricketer, you know what to do, and as a cricketer, you should know that. Only four (overseas) players can play in the Playing XI, but you should always have the right mindset. If there is an opportunity for you, you should do your best. If there is no opportunity for you, you should be well prepared. Whenever you get the opportunity, you have to know what to do,” explained Gurbaz.

Rising to the Occasion

In KKR’s last league game against Rajasthan Royals, relentless rain in Guwahati postponed Gurbaz’s opportunity to play until the knockouts against SRH. He performed well, taking two catches and executing a run-out, in addition to scoring 23 runs off 14 balls in a 160-run chase. Gurbaz credited the supportive KKR management for easing the pressure and allowing him to enjoy the game.

Support from the KKR Family

“See, if you have top management like the KKR family, I think you don’t need to worry about anything. Because GG sir (Gautam Gambhir) is there, Shah Rukh sir is there, the head coach is there, and everyone is like a family. I didn’t play for a long time and suddenly played in the semi-final, which was big pressure, but they took all the pressure from me and said, ‘Just go and enjoy the game’. I was well prepared actually because we had a very good net session. Phil Salt played well, and I hope I replace him in good name,” said Gurbaz.

Looking Ahead to the Final

With KKR advancing to the IPL 2024 final in Chennai, the team awaits their opponent as Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad remain in contention. Gurbaz aims to perform his best to help KKR secure an IPL trophy, hoping to bring joy to his family and ailing mother back home.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)