The 20-year-old left-arm spinner, who was picked up by CSK for a hefty sum of Rs 10 crore in the previous IPL mega auction, delivered on the franchise’s expectations, making an impact in almost every match he played. Noor recalled how his debut IPL season was made special by the opportunity to share the dressing rooom with Dhoni
Noor Ahmad (Pic: X/@ICC)
Afghanistan’s young spin sensation Noor Ahmad opened up about his memorable experience of playing under the leadership of MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and also expressed high hopes for Afghanistan ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
The 20-year-old left-arm spinner, who was picked up by CSK for a hefty sum of Rs 10 crore in the previous IPL mega auction, delivered on the franchise’s expectations, making an impact in almost every match he played.
While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Noor recalled how his debut IPL season was made special not just by his performances, but by the opportunity to share the dressing room with the legendary Dhoni.
"Getting Man of the Match in my first game was special, but playing alongside MS Dhoni was the real highlight. Of course. He keeps things very simple for everyone. You don't have to think too much. He just says, 'Assess the situation, do what is needed.' He had complete trust in what I wanted to do. No pressure. We just had to stick to our strengths," Noor said.
The Afghan spinner was also instrumental in his team’s recent campaign in the Tri-Nation Series, where he picked up five wickets in three matches, helping Afghanistan reach the final.
Looking ahead, Noor is set to feature in the Asia Cup 2025, which kicks off on September 9. Afghanistan will begin their campaign against Hong Kong, followed by matches against Bangladesh on September 16 and Sri Lanka on September 18. The final of the tournament is scheduled for September 28.
Noor expressed confidence in Afghanistan’s chances, drawing inspiration from their impressive performance in last year’s T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals.
"We were in the T20 World Cup semi-final last year. This year, we should be in the Asia Cup final. That's the mindset. Winning a trophy for the country - World Cup, Champions Trophy, any world tournament. It's something that I'll remember," Noor added.
Afghanistan squad for the Asia Cup 2025: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
(With ANI inputs)
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