UAE teen Vaishnave Mahesh thrilled to break record of her hero Rashid Khan

When Vaishnave Mahesh found out she had broken a record previously held by her hero, she did not know how to feel.

The UAE leg-spinner had just set a new mark that is unlikely to be broken any time soon – if ever.

In the national team’s win over Malaysia at the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier last week, she became the youngest player to reach 50 wickets in T20 internationals.

She did not just snatch the record, either. She obliterated it. Aged 16 years and 262 days, she shaved nearly three years off the previous best, that of Rashid Khan.

“When we finished the first innings against Malaysia, the manager told me I had achieved 50 wickets,” Vaishnave said of a game in which she took 2-12.

“Then later, after the presentation ceremony, she told me I had surpassed the record of Rashid Khan and had become the youngest to achieve this feat.

“I didn’t know how to react. I was still processing that information. I didn’t know whether to feel happy or elated, but later on in the evening, after I spoke to my parents, I got a reality check. I felt really happy.”

Vaishnave debuted for the national team aged just 12 years and 31 days and has already played over 50 T20Is.

The ICC recently passed a rule saying players must be 15 before they can play international cricket, meaning her record will take some matching.

The previous holder, Rashid Khan, was a teenage prodigy himself and Vaishnave says he is her inspiration.

Vaishnave Mahesh debuted for the UAE national team aged just 12 years and 31 days and has already played over 50 T20Is. Photo: Asian Cricket Council

“Shane Warne still is my hero, but over a period of time it has become Rashid Khan,” she said.

“He is a modern day great, who has showed that a cricketer from Afghanistan, who