Rashid Khan is embracing his popularity in the BBL and SuperCoach this season

He’s one of the most popular picks in SuperCoach BBL this season and Rashid Khan is being reminded almost every day just how valuable he is in SuperCoach by his adoring fans on the street. Plus, top five must-haves for the run home.

Rashid Khan celebrates taking a wicket for the Strikers.

Boom Big Bash all-rounder Rashid Khan says he had no idea what SuperCoach BBL was when he arrived in Australia.

But he quickly found out.

With almost 85,000 SuperCoaches across the country, the 20-year-old Adelaide Strikers star says he is regularly stopped wherever he goes in Australia to talk about the fantasy game.

“I didn’t even know what it is, but I have been told by many people ‘you’re my SuperCoach captain’,” Khan said.

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“I get that from lots of young guys, they’re telling me that ‘you are my fantasy SuperCoach captain, my favourite player and the most valuable player in the game’.

“They were always telling me these things but I’m thinking what was it related to?”

Khan says a punter showed him the game during a practice match in Adelaide before the beginning of the Big Bash.

Rashid Khan celebrates taking a wicket for the Strikers.

“I just heard about the app, this is the game, one guy came and he told me ‘you are my captain’ and he showed me,” Khan said.

“It’s another way to keep the fans interested, they are happy I have done well because I’ve scored well for them.”

While Big Bash players are not permitted to play the game, it’s little wonder SuperCoaches are clamouring for Khan. Picked in more than 36,000 teams (42.7 per cent), Khan was behind only England keeper-bat Jos Buttler (37,100, 45.4 per cent).

But that number is set to skyrocket, making the Afghan star No.1, with Thunder gun Buttler jetting out of Sydney to play for England.

Through six rounds, Khan has been among the most reliable players in the game, his average of 90 behind only Hobart sensation D’Arcy Short (109.6) and one-game Melbourne Stars wonder Peter Handscomb (145).

Khan combines his bowling with big hitting.

His almost unplayable bowling and big hitting has propelled him to scores of 129, 182 (double game round), 54, 107 and 68 through the first six rounds (he had the bye in Round 3).

And, guess what — he has the double game in Round 7. While that is followed by the bye in Round 8, Khan will then play every round for the rest of the season, including yet another double in Round 11. He could be nudging $300,000 by then if he keeps putting up big numbers, so the time to act is now — right now … well, as soon as the lockout is lifted at the end of the round.

FIVE MUST-HAVE PLAYERS FOR THE RUN-HOME

D’ARCY SHORT ($279,700, 109.6)

Has the bye in Round 7 but then it’s smooth sailing from there. Doubles in Round 8 and 11 make it vital you have SuperCoach’s best player in your side after this round. The only spanner in the works is if he keeps bopping attacks and the Aussies struggle, he might get the international call up.

CHRIS LYNN ($188,000, 65.5)

The master blaster himself also missed out on Australian selection and that’s given rise to all sorts of conspiracy theories — that I don’t subscribe to, might I add. No more byes for the Heat this season and a double game in Round 11. Get on now.

Chris Lynn is a must-have for the run home. Picture: Getty

TOM CURRAN ($218,000, 94)

Set and forget. No byes, no double game rounds, just consistent big-hitting and death bowling from the English all-rounder that translates to big SuperCoach scores.

DAN CHRISTIAN ($171,700, 69.4)

At 35, some might say the Melbourne Renegade is having a renaissance, but they’d be forgetting this guy has always tonked it and has always been a wicket-taker. I’d agree that he’s hitting them as well as he ever has and that means he has to be in your side — even if the ‘Gades do have a bye in the last round.

AJ TYE ($135,200, 38)

Hear me out: This guy would have averaged 91.1 SuperCoach points last season. Unlike teammates Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff, he hasn’t been picked for the Australian team, meaning the microscope will be on him to perform for the Scorchers. He’s now available at nearly half his starting price and, despite a bye in Round 9, he bounces back with a double game the very next round. Wait until he bottoms out and swoop.

Originally published as Rashid Khan is embracing his popularity in the BBL and SuperCoach this season