Kerala-born Alishan takes a leaf out of Kohli’s book in UAE’s historic win over Bangladesh

Sharjah: India’s Chase Master Virat Kohli wasn’t in Dubai, but his influence could be felt in Sharjah as Alishan Sharafu crafted a pursuit that was equal parts calm, calculated and clinical.

UAE’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh on Tuesday wasn’t just a landmark moment for the team — it was a coming-of-age innings for their young captain, who soaked up the pressure, paced the chase expertly, and stayed unbeaten till the end.

“We’ve all seen how Kohli goes about his innings and the way he pieces it together,” Alishan told Gulf News still after the game. “Not saying that’s exactly how I did it, but I’ve tried to learn a couple of things from him. It’s never too much to chase, even if it’s 10 an over in the last four.”

After Bangladesh posted a par 162 for 9 on a tricky surface — thanks largely to Haider Ali’s crafty left-arm spin — the pressure was on.

Alishan’s 68 not out off 47 balls came after the early loss of Muhammad Waseem, a big blow given the opener’s explosive form in the first two games. But the UAE skipper never panicked. He absorbed the pressure, formed crucial partnerships — with debutant Muhammad Zohaib (29) and veteran Rahul Chopra — and timed the charge perfectly. From needing 34 off the last four overs, UAE crossed the finish line with five balls and seven wickets to spare.

“We always had the belief,” he said. “Me and Lala [Asif Khan] had a chat in the middle. The plan was to just keep the run rate in check, not lose wickets early, and give ourselves a chance at the end.”

Head coach Lalchand Rajput was full of praise for the way his captain handled the situation.

“Everybody knows he was a striker. He used to love hitting in the air,” Rajput said. “But in the last few months, we’ve made him realise that he’s one of our matchwinners. Senior players have to take responsibility and stay till the end — that’s exactly what he did.”

Rajput added: “After losing our captain early on, he took the mantle on his shoulders and showed a lot of courage, resilience and maturity.”

The duo of Alishan and Asif Khan proved to be the perfect foil for each other in the middle overs.

“They matched each other well,” Rajput said. “They knew which bowler to take on and which one to respect. It was an excellent partnership.”

Alishan, born to Malayali parents from Pazhayangadi in Kerala’s Kannur district, moved to Dubai at age 10 and quickly climbed the UAE junior ranks. He captained the UAE U-19s to the World Cup Plate title in 2022 and, at just 17, smashed a record T10 century (146 off 42 balls) in the domestic league — shattering Chris Lynn’s previous mark.

The former Under-19 skipper also showed sharp game awareness on a pitch that slowed early but quickened under the dew.

“It was holding up a bit at the start, even for the spinners,” Alishan explained. “But once the ball got older and the dew came in, it started skidding on more. We used their pace, looked to hit square or straight.”

He admitted the Bangladesh pacers weren’t the fastest he has faced. “I’ve played guys like Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson in ILT20” — but said he always enjoys facing quick bowlers.

“It helps me focus and wake up a bit more than facing gentle medium pace,” he smiled.

The win marked another big step in a journey that began with UAE’s age-group teams, where Alishan once lifted the Under-19 World Cup Plate title as captain.

“It’s been a great journey,” he said. “There’ve been ups and downs, but I’ve learnt a lot and grown as a player. The goal was always to one day help the team win a big match like this. But the process stays the same — trust it, repeat it, and help UAE beat strong teams more regularly.”

With UAE now qualified for the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup and eyes firmly set on bigger stages, Alishan hopes to carry this momentum into 50-over cricket too.

“The results haven’t been ideal in ODIs recently,” he admitted. “But we’ve been doing the right things, just need to find the right balance. I enjoy both formats — hopefully we’ll get there soon.”