Former England captain Eoin Morgan has lauded Adil Rashid as "irreplaceable" after his player of the match performance in their must win T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka.
Rashid has had a difficult year with the ball, having taken just eight wickets at an average of 60 and an economy rate of 8.7 in 15 T20Is since the start of the summer. However, he was back to his best against Sri Lanka, picking up 1-16, not conceding a single boundary and helping England drag themselves back into the game after a poor start with the ball.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Morgan said: "I think even the confidence Jos gave him [Rashid] in his interview there reinforces that he is irreplaceable in the team. People sometimes jump to the far right column and it doesn't justify his contribution to the team, certainly on a wicket like this.
"In many ways, he's similar to a bowler like Mark Wood, who has the ability to turn a game on its head, he sucked the life out of the energy Sri Lanka were gathering after that brilliant start.
"He went through his full repertoire of variations and then gets the huge wicket of Pathum, that was crucial because for a long time it looked like Sri Lanka were going to post 170 or 175 - that would be an unbelievably tough chase on this wicket."
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara was also full of praise for Rashid, stating the leg-spinner is "winning games for England without anyone even noticing."
How impressive was Adil Rashid against Sri Lanka? Have your say in the comments!
"Adil Rashid's first over changed the game for England," Bopara said on BBC Test Match Special. "He came on with only two men out against two set batters and went for not many [two runs].
"That was remarkable. He hasn't taken the wickets but his spell of bowling was crucial. That's why he was man of the match today. He's winning games for England without anyone even noticing."
England's victory has earned them a spot in the World Cup semi-finals, where they look set to face India in a bumper clash at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
