Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Shaik Rasheed made a memorable IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, overcoming pre-match nerves with guidance from teammates Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni. Rasheed admitted feeling anxious before the game, unsure of how to approach his innings. He shared that both Dube and Dhoni advised him to stay calm, focus solely on the ball, and not get distracted by the crowd, emphasizing the importance of showing intent at the crease.

Rasheed’s composed approach paid off as he scored a brisk 27 off 19 balls, including six boundaries, helping CSK get off to a flying start in their chase of 167. He formed a solid 52-run opening partnership with Rachin Ravindra, who contributed 37 from 22 balls, laying a strong foundation for the middle order. After the match, Rasheed dedicated his knock to the net bowlers, acknowledging their hard work and support in his preparation.

A promising top-order batsman from Andhra Pradesh, Rasheed had already played 19 First-Class matches, scoring 1204 runs at an average of 37.62, along with experience in List A and T20 formats. CSK, who had lost five consecutive matches for the first time in IPL history, regained their form with a comprehensive win over LSG, successfully chasing the target and returning to winning ways.