'No pressure at all': Kamran Khan

Shane Warne has a way with picking up raw, unknown talent and making them into champion performers. Till a couple of months ago, Kamran Khan was an unknown, struggling club bowler practicing at former Western Railway player Naushad Khan's nets at Mumbai's Azad Maidan. Yesterday night, he was Rajasthan Royals' star performer in their thrilling win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sahara Park.

Kamran Akmal does the star turn for Rajasthan Royals against Knight Riders in Cape Town yesterday. PIC/AFP

With Knight Riders needing seven to win in the last over, Warne gave the ball to Khan, who was playing only his second match at this level.

Despite a wide, the left-arm pacer denied a well-set Sourav Ganguly, claiming his wicket off the fifth ball, and gave only a single off the last ball to tie the game.

It was no surprise that Warne again chose Khan to bowl the designated Super Over. He restricted Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum to 15 and his teammate Yusuf Pathan smashed the required runs in four balls.

"I did not feel any pressure and concentrated on keeping things normal," Khan, who claimed three wickets for 18 runs in his four overs, told MiD DAY after the game.

"Warne asked me whether I was feeling the pressure. I told him. 'No'. And he handed the ball to me for the final over and then the Super Over. I am happy and dedicate this win to my late mother and father. I wish my mother was alive to see this game. She always wished to see me playing at the top level."

A delighted Warne said: "I had faith in Kamran. I said before the tournament that I have real faith in him. I think he is a real star for the future. It was a great learning opportunity for him and I am sure he will be better for the experience."

After being restricted to 150 for six, Royals did well to check the Knight Riders chase before Ganguly tilted the scales in his team's favour with a quickfire 30-ball 46.

It was Knight Riders second loss in three games and the pressure is on coach John Buchanan for his decision to replace Ganguly as skipper. Warne did not let go of the opportunity to have a dig at his former coach's theory of multiple skippers for Twenty20. "I believe in one captain. I believe coaches should be there for under-age cricket and first-class cricket. But for international cricket and I call this international cricket, the captain runs the show. One voice for the captain is the best way to go because everyone knows where they stand."

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