Pakistan’s Haris Rauf, once renowned for his fiery pace and wicket-taking prowess, has become a victim of his own recent highs. From Virat Kohli’s six-smashing onslaught to Finn Allen’s record-breaking Kiwi carnage, Rauf’s bowling spells have morphed from nightmares to full-blown horror films.
Just a few months ago, Rauf was hailed as a hero, his express deliveries tormenting batters in the ODI World Cup. But lately, his radar seems wildly off-kilter, with economy rates soaring and runs bleeding freely. In Tuesday’s T20I against New Zealand, the dam finally burst.
Tasked with containing the Black Caps’ opening charge, Haris Rauf’s four overs resembled a charity fair for Allen. Smashed, pummeled, and generally brutalized, the Pakistani speedster conceded a shocking 60 runs – the fourth most expensive bowling spell by a Pakistani bowler in T20Is.
The Twitterverse, a merciless arena for sporting mishaps, erupted in a chorus of mockery. Memes and barbs flew thick and fast, reminding Rauf of the stark contrast between his current struggles and the Virat Kohli carnage that once saw him lauded as a future great.
Haris Rauf haunted by Virat Kohli “sixes”?
The irony is thick. Not long ago, Haris Rauf’s yorkers sent shivers down Kohli’s spine, only for the Indian master to turn the tables with a series of audacious sixes. Now, facing a different batsman years after, Rauf is on the receiving end of a similar onslaught.
Allen’s bat transformed into a willow-wielding wrecking ball, pulverizing Rauf’s deliveries into oblivion. 16 sixes, the highest score by a Kiwi in T20Is, and a record-equalling feat of six-hitting, all courtesy of Rauf’s wayward spell.
New Zealand went on to post 224/7 in 20 overs at the University Oval, with Tim Seifert’s 31 (23) the next best as the 24-year-old stole the show.
In reply, Pakistan never looked comfortable in chasing this big of a target as Men in Green lost the series vs Kiwis.
The question on everyone’s lips is – what’s happened to Haris Rauf? Is the pressure getting to him? Has his high-octane bowling style backfired? The answers remain elusive, but one thing is clear: Rauf needs to find his mojo quickly, or his once-bright star will continue to dim under the harsh glare of international cricket.
Can Rauf rediscover his rhythm and rewrite his recent narrative? Or will the ‘Kohli sixes’ haunt him, becoming a symbol of his fall from grace? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Pakistan’s hopes for T20 World Cup rest heavily on finding a solution to the Haris Rauf conundrum.
