UAE, Dubai (Jan 10, 2024) Sherfane Rutherford, a batting juggernaut for the West Indies, wrote himself into a cricket legend during the first season of the ILT20. Rutherford heroically returned to the field after tearing his hamstring during a vital qualifying match against the Gulf Giants.
Despite being in terrible pain, Rutherford managed to score 37 off 19 balls, which helped his team win easily. For the second season, the star from the West Indies is back with the Desert Vipers, and head coach James Foster is overjoyed.
Foster expressed his admiration for Rutherford’s bravery and tenacity in qualifying as well as throughout the campaign.
“Sherfane Rutherford had an incredible tournament last year; his impact on the campaign made him a standout player for us.” It is well remembered that during the qualifying round, he suffered a hamstring tear, which ended his tournament career and caused him to leave the field. He was determined to go back out and play, though.
“You can’t go back,” was my first thought, but he persisted. Our amazing physio strapped him up and he returned after talking with Tom Moody, the Director of Cricket for Desert Vipers. After that, he gave a really amazing performance, hitting all those sixes.
However, the entire competition was at stake, not just one performance. He is an amazing guy who gets along well with everyone in the group. He is also a really brilliant player, so I’m happy to see him being recognized by the West Indies.
Sherfane Rutherford discussed his knock in the qualifier, which he believes to be one of his best performances to date, in an interview with the Vipers Voices podcast.
As I stepped up to bat, I wondered what I would do. I could hardly move because I was in so much pain. I just assumed I would go out and try my hardest. I had no plan. I hoped to do well in the tournament finale. Since everything went smoothly and is something I will never forget, I suppose it was a miracle. That will be one of my best innings since I enjoyed it so much.
Sherfane Rutherford performance in the ILT20 was remarkable, but he also had a strong season overall. In the first eight innings of play, he scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 184.32, which was second only to Keiron Pollard of MI Emirates (192.19) among all players.
It was all about working hard, according to Sherfane Rutherford, who added, “It (the ILT20 campaign) was a good one, I actually played out of my skin, surprising myself once again.”
“When I put in a lot of effort, I genuinely trust my game and my method. The thing that stands out to me about performing and playing well is that there are no limits to hard work; you can achieve a lot by just working hard.
“I think I have been doing that for the past few years. For me, doing well is about preparing properly. Hopefully, my efforts will continue to be seen on the field as I look forward to the upcoming season.
After missing a significant amount of time due to a hamstring injury, the left-handed batter displayed true resolve during his recovery.
“I was out for six months, and the main goal was recovery,” he stated. “I was unable to walk or take care of myself for a few weeks.” Though unpleasant, it was ultimately a part of our journey, and you should be proud of yourself for persevering through it.
Sherfane Rutherford was rewarded for his perseverance when he was called up to the West Indies short form teams. At the end of 2023, he will represent his nation against England in the ODI and T20I series.
“Playing international cricket is good; it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said in an interview with the Vipers Voices podcast. Regaining that sense of it is pleasant. I’m excited to play more, grow professionally, and have a long career in international cricket.
Currently, Sherfane Rutherford wants to be in the running for the international circuit and put in even more effort in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is set for the summer in the USA and the West Indies.
He claimed, “I think about that when I go to sleep; it’s something that comes to me every day.” One of my main driving forces is that. The T20 World Cup is a work in progress, but it’s fortunate that I have a lot of cricket ahead of me, including matches against the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League and the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League after the ILT20. I believe that playing cricket will provide me with the best opportunity to both succeed and make the squad.
Rutherford expressed confidence that the Desert Vipers would win the trophy this season, even in the short term.
“I think we have managed to keep the core of the players, which is the key to winning the tournament and being a good team,” he remarked. We have chosen some incredibly talented players, and I can’t wait to see the guys again. The people on our squad are capable of winning every game, and I have no doubt that we can advance further by the end of the competition.
The Desert Vipers’ opening game in the ILT20 is scheduled for Sunday, January 21, at Dubai International Stadium, against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The ILT20 tournament begins on Friday, January 19.
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