Zadran, who wore the number 18 jersey like Kohli does for India, hit 98 runs, breaking Shubman Gill’s ODI record.
When Sri Lanka played Afghanistan in the first of three one-day internationals on Friday at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota, the entire focus was on Matheesha Pathirana.
Pathirana was anticipated to follow in the footsteps of his debut IPL victory for Chennai Super Kings, where he was coached by MS Dhoni. Dhoni had nothing but praise for the young player.
But despite his poor start, the visiting team’s opening batter, Ibrahim Zadran, emerged as a hero.
Wearing the number 18 pullover, very much like Virat Kohli accomplishes for India, the youth crushed a courageous and game dominating 98.
He broke Shubman Gill’s ODI record in the process, giving Afghanistan a 1-0 series lead.
Zadran just went on with his wonderful structure in the configuration notwithstanding being in real life in this organization following a hole of a half year.
Having made his presentation in 2019 for Afghanistan, Zadran’s enchanted run began in precisely a year back when the group had gone to Zimbabwe for a series. In the second game.
He hit an unbeaten 121 before hitting 106 and a massive 162 on a tour of Sri Lanka in November.
On Friday, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early in the chase against the 269-run target.
However, Zadran alone inflicted damage on the Sri Lankan bowlers, particularly against the 145-plus kmph deliveries from Pathirana, and he reached his half-century in just 35 balls.
This permitted Rahmat Shah to take as much time as necessary and get comfortable before the pair added a dazzling 146-run organization.
Kasun Rajitha ended Zadran’s well-deserved century with a score of 98. Leaving Afghanistan with less than 100 runs to chase after 20 overs.
The chase ended in the 47th over, giving the visitors a 1-0 series advantage. Zadran, who won the Player of the Match award.
Became the second fastest batter to score 500 ODI runs in his ninth innings. South Africa’s Janneman Malan still holds the record, which was set seven innings earlier.
It beats India’s best Shubman Gill (10 innings) and equals Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq for the fastest Asian batter.
Zadran’s career has been defined by consistency throughout, whether it has been domestic or international.
The right-handed batter made his debut in List A cricket six years ago. Competing in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament and the Shpageeza Cricket League.
However, his rise can be attributed to his incredible performance. At the 2018 U-19 World Cup in January 2017, where he was the team’s leading run-getter.
In 2019, he was selected to play in the one-time Test against Bangladesh. Where he scored 87 in the second innings in Chattogram, becoming one of the youngest players to do so.
He was selected for the ODIs and T20Is shortly after that. With Shahzad’s abrupt departure from the game.
Zadran solidified his position as the opener with his consistent performance across all formats, as demonstrated by Friday’s match against Sri Lanka.