"Mother Still In Hospital...": KKR Star, After IPL 2024 Final Entry, Says He Left Her To Join Team

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz said his mother is still recovering in the hospital. Gurbaz played a 23-run knock from 14 balls at a strike rate of 164.29 during KKR's match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Qualifier 1 match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gurbaz said he came back from Afghanistan since KKR needed him as Philip Salt's replacement in the playing eleven. The 22-year-old added his mother is happy for his performance in the tournament.

"My mother is still recovering in the hospital, I speak to her every day. But I knew my KKR family needed me here once Phil Salt left. So I came back from Afghanistan, and I'm happy to be here. My mother is happy for me too," Gurbaz said.

"My mother is still recovering in the hospital, I speak to her every day. But I knew my KKR family needed me here once Phil Salt left. So I came back from Afghanistan, and I'm happy to be here. My mother is happy for me too"

- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (After KKR beat SRH to enter… pic.twitter.com/57YGVfhiTX

Earlier, the right-handed hitter did not feature in any games for the KKR this season because of Salt and Sunil Narine's success at the top of the opening order and the game against the Hyderbad-based franchise in the playoffs was his first match of the IPL 2024.

Recapping the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad elected to bat first. After being reduced to 39/4 following an incredible powerplay spell by Mitchell Starc, a 62-run stand between Rahul Tripathi (55 in 35 balls, with seven fours and a six) and Heinrich Klaasen (32 in 21 balls, with three fours and a six) helped SRH cross the 100-run mark. But wickets kept