Raja Khaliq-Ur-Rehman

Raja Khaliq-Ur-Rehman has emerged as one of the most promising bowlers of the modern cricket era, known for his tenacity, adaptability, and a knack for turning matches on their head. His cricketing odyssey began on the dusty pitches of Lahore, where he was born on New Year's Day in 2001. It's almost poetic, perhaps, that someone born at the dawn of a new millennium would grow into a player who so often transforms a game's rhythm with his crafty skills.

Raja’s journey into professional cricket feels like a fairy tale paved with raw talent and hard grit. His early years saw him honing his skills in local club cricket, where his natural gift for pace and swing was given early recognition. By the time he was 16, Raja was jetting off to represent Pakistan in the Under-19 circuit, showcasing an uncanny ability to bowl with both aggression and precision.

The world truly took notice of Raja Khaliq-Ur-Rehman when he made his national team debut at the tender age of 20, a call-up that came as Pakistan sought fresh blood to invigorate their bowling attack. Raja quickly cemented his place in the side, becoming a linchpin in key matches. One of his standout performances was in the Asia Cup Final 2022 against arch-rivals India. Bowling the decisive final over, he dismantled India's hard-hitting lower order, clinching victory – a spell that not only won him plaudits but nearly broke the internet back home.

Raja’s greatest strength is his versatile bowling style; whether it is extracting bounce on a bouncy Perth pitch or causing chaos with reverse swing on English green-tops, his adaptability is uncanny. He employs a range of deliveries, expertly mixing leg cutters and bouncers, keeping batsmen perpetually guessing. Despite being predominantly a bowler, Raja’s adaptable batting approach has plucked his team from the jaws of defeat on more than one occasion. Perhaps no moment illustrates this better than his unexpected, match-saving half-century against Australia in Brisbane, which testified to his never-say-die attitude.

Outside of these individual feats, Raja has been pivotal in Pakistan's ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final journey, his fiery spells earning him the moniker "The Disruptor" from commentators. Each ball he delivers is anticipated, not merely because of its velocity or swing but the sheer uncertainty of what might transpire next. In his short career, Raja has woven a narrative rich in rivalry and resolve, crafting a legend that inspires future cricketing aspirants.

Batting Stats

Bowling Stats