Sikandar Raza, who broke Virat Kohli’s record, revels in winning games for Zimbabwe [Exclusive]

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza was recently involved in an exclusive conversation with CricTracker. He spoke elaborately on several topics including his mindset which makes him perform consistently at the top level, the entire PSL 2025 final experience, breaking a stellar Virat Kohli record and more. Raza was also honest on conceding the list of bowlers who have troubled him across his career.

Raza has been a stalwart for Zimbabwe cricket over the years. He has contributed in both departments and in the field to help Zimbabwe flourish in bilateral series and on the world stage. As of now, he has scored 8498 runs and picked up 230 wickets for his nation in the 294 matches played. Raza has also been a crucial part of many franchises around the world while playing in renowned T20 tournaments.

Excerpts from the interview:

Being ranked No.1 ODI all-rounder at age 39 — what’s your mindset when you hear that, and how do you keep performing at that level?

It was a very blessed, it was a very humbling, and a very rewarding sort of message. How do I keep performing? I think the hunger and desire to play this beautiful sport and the hunger and desire to keep doing well for Zimbabwe never left me.

Irrespective of what people might say or think about the age, I think once the hunger is there, I always use that quote that my will to succeed has to be far greater than any fear of failure. So, because of those little things, I just kept working hard, and it’s nice to be rewarded for all of that. 

The PSL 2025 final: Landing just 10 minutes before the toss and still hitting the winning runs — how did you mentally prepare for such a moment?

I don’t think I mentally or physically prepared for any of that. It was just pure heart and emotions. Lahore looks after us really well. The relation I have with the boys, the relation I have with the owner, the management is just pure in every sense of the word.

Once I got the call from the owner, I was willing to put everything on the line for the team, especially being at a final. So, I didn’t really think about mentally and physically preparing for it. It was just pure heart.

You recently broke Virat Kohli’s record for most Player of the Match awards in T20Is. What does that achievement mean to you?

Winning the Player of the Match means that Zimbabwe won the game. So, I do not compare myself or look at who’s got how many records or who’s got how many matches. Just the pure joy of winning the game for Zimbabwe is unmatchable for me.

If by winning matches for Zimbabwe I ended up breaking a few records, then it’s Alhamdulillah. But just winning the game for Zimbabwe, there are no emotions, there are no words, there’s nothing that can be described.

What’s your first memory of bowling to Virat Kohli?

My first memory of bowling to Virat would be the 2015 Australia World Cup and I think we played in New Zealand; that is my first memory.

Among international all-rounders past and present, who do you compare yourself to or admire most?

I don’t compare myself to anybody. I think if you speak to most of the cricketers, they’ll probably give the same answer. We have our own paths. That’s how I feel anyway. I have my own path. I have my own journey. All I focus on is how I’m going to go on about my journey and my path.

But one thing I would say is that the cricketers have been there for a long time but we haven’t been around for a long time and we haven’t watched a lot of all-rounders. But one all-rounder that I think was and is still unmatchable, and you never know what’s going to happen in the future, was probably Jacques Kallis.

Which bowler has troubled you the most internationally, and why?

At different stages in my career, different bowlers have troubled me. Different conditions have made it harder. There are just too many to mention. Josh Hazlewood in Australia was tricky to face. Saeed Ajmal, in a Test match in Harare was tough. Rangana Herath in Sri Lanka was extremely tough to face. Shakib in Bangladesh. Nuwan Pradeep in Harare, Chameera.

There are too many. At different stages of my life, there are always bowlers to trouble. Kemar Roach, in a Test match with a reverse swing, was tough to face. Suranga Lakmal in Harare was tough to face in a Test match. There have been far too many to mention.

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