The most distinguished characteristic of Rashid Khan ’s bowling is his ability to hit the nagging length consistently and outsmart batters with his variations, with a dash of mystery. An absolute giant of the format and the Indian Premier League ( IPL ), the Afghan maestro has found it tough to get going in the ongoing edition.
He has been Gujarat Titan's go-to man since 2022 but in the four games he has played this season, Rashid has picked up a solitary wicket and has conceded runs at 10.21 per over. The 26-year-old has gone wicketless in three consecutive matches, only the second time in his IPL career, and both these sequences have occurred in his last eight IPL games. In IPL 2024, Rashid Khan, who was returning from lower back surgery, snapped only 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40.
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The approach of opposition batters became a bit predictable as the season progressed and they were happy to see his four overs off and feed on the rest of the attack. This year, however, Rashid has leaked plenty of runs and has lacked the control he is known for in this unforgiving format.
He had a back surgery post 2023 ODI World Cup and former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels it could well be a reason for his sombre outing in this year's IPL.
"It has been very interesting to see the decline in the impact that Rashid Khan has had," Watson, a JioStar Expert, said in a media interaction.
"He's been slightly off his best. He hasn't been as consistent with his length, which is always one of his huge strengths. He very rarely bowled a short ball, or a full ball that you could really get under. So whether it's his body, he's still working through coming back after that back injury he had.
"He's still managing how to consistently execute his ball variations from that really good length he's accustomed to bowling. He's just going to take a little bit of time to find his groove now that he's had to work through his injury issues. But he is a champion. You never write off a champion," he added.
Rashid was out of action for around four months after the surgery and although it has been a year since he made his comeback, TimesofIndia.com understands he could still be away from peak fitness. While the GT physios haven't picked an anomaly yet, Rashid has been on the road non-stop since returning to competitive cricket.
Be it for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, in the IPL, Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, the Hundred, Afghanistan's domestic T20 competition Shpageeza Cricket League, and SA20, the crafty spinner has been plying his trade in different parts of the world which involves hectic travel too.
Former India Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Ramji Srinivasan explains the importance of rehab after a sportsperson undergoes back surgery.
"It is very difficult to generalise. One may come back after back surgery in 2 to 3 months, or even longer. It also depends on the intensity of the surgery. Lower back surgery recovery can range from 3 months to 6 months to 8 months to 1 year," he explains.
"It also depends on many other variables. For example, the operation may be successful, but the rehab and strength and conditioning may not be performed effectively. And also the nutrition aspect and the mindset. See, many factors are involved. So, one has to be very mindful to have the best support staff to return to play as quickly as possible," added the expert.
On the much used term "workload management", Ramji retierated why it's a "big concept".
"Workload management is a big concept. Very few have understood its true meaning. It's not only the strength and conditioning domain. It's a domain for the coaches, the physio, the players, the recovery specialists, and massage therapists. Everyone has to be involved," says Ramji.
An injury timeline
Just a bad phase
Raees Ahmadzai, former Afghanistan assistant coach, who is currently working with Afghanistan's U-19 team, feels it is just a bad phase for Rashid Khan.
"He is tough as nails. He is going to grind it out of this phase. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also gone through such bad phases. Cricketers of such stature know how to get out of such situations," says Ahmadzai .
"The Rashid I know must have watched all his 16 overs several times with the team's video analyst. I am sure he will figure out what is missing in his bowling," he adds.
He has been Gujarat Titan's go-to man since 2022 but in the four games he has played this season, Rashid has picked up a solitary wicket and has conceded runs at 10.21 per over. The 26-year-old has gone wicketless in three consecutive matches, only the second time in his IPL career, and both these sequences have occurred in his last eight IPL games. In IPL 2024, Rashid Khan, who was returning from lower back surgery, snapped only 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
The approach of opposition batters became a bit predictable as the season progressed and they were happy to see his four overs off and feed on the rest of the attack. This year, however, Rashid has leaked plenty of runs and has lacked the control he is known for in this unforgiving format.
He had a back surgery post 2023 ODI World Cup and former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels it could well be a reason for his sombre outing in this year's IPL.
Rashid Khan in IPL 2025
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) April 6, 2025
4-0-31-0 vs SRH
4-0-54-0 vs RCB
2-0-10-0 vs MI
4-0-48-1 vs PBKS
Finished at the age of 26? pic.twitter.com/Mw1ISMNVkU
"It has been very interesting to see the decline in the impact that Rashid Khan has had," Watson, a JioStar Expert, said in a media interaction.
"He's been slightly off his best. He hasn't been as consistent with his length, which is always one of his huge strengths. He very rarely bowled a short ball, or a full ball that you could really get under. So whether it's his body, he's still working through coming back after that back injury he had.
"He's still managing how to consistently execute his ball variations from that really good length he's accustomed to bowling. He's just going to take a little bit of time to find his groove now that he's had to work through his injury issues. But he is a champion. You never write off a champion," he added.
Rashid was out of action for around four months after the surgery and although it has been a year since he made his comeback, TimesofIndia.com understands he could still be away from peak fitness. While the GT physios haven't picked an anomaly yet, Rashid has been on the road non-stop since returning to competitive cricket.
Attack MODE 🔛! @IamSanjuSamson took on Rashid Khan & how 👌 👌
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2023
Watch those 3⃣ SIXES 💪 🔽 #TATAIPL | #GTvRR | @rajasthanroyals
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/nvoo5Sl96y pic.twitter.com/0gG3NrNJ9z
Be it for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, in the IPL, Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, the Hundred, Afghanistan's domestic T20 competition Shpageeza Cricket League, and SA20, the crafty spinner has been plying his trade in different parts of the world which involves hectic travel too.
Former India Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Ramji Srinivasan explains the importance of rehab after a sportsperson undergoes back surgery.
"It is very difficult to generalise. One may come back after back surgery in 2 to 3 months, or even longer. It also depends on the intensity of the surgery. Lower back surgery recovery can range from 3 months to 6 months to 8 months to 1 year," he explains.
"It also depends on many other variables. For example, the operation may be successful, but the rehab and strength and conditioning may not be performed effectively. And also the nutrition aspect and the mindset. See, many factors are involved. So, one has to be very mindful to have the best support staff to return to play as quickly as possible," added the expert.
On the much used term "workload management", Ramji retierated why it's a "big concept".
"Workload management is a big concept. Very few have understood its true meaning. It's not only the strength and conditioning domain. It's a domain for the coaches, the physio, the players, the recovery specialists, and massage therapists. Everyone has to be involved," says Ramji.
An injury timeline
- Rashid had undergone back surgery after the ODI World Cup 2023, which kept him out of action for four months.
- A hamstring injury ruled him out of the last week of the Hundred in 2024.
- He picked up a back issue after playing only three of the eight games for Speen Ghar Tigers in the second half of August 2024.
- A week later, Rashid Khan missed the one-off, washed-out Test against New Zealand after taking a break from the longest format on medical advice because of a groin injury.
- In September 2024, he pulled his hamstring in the second ODI against South Africa.
Just a bad phase
Raees Ahmadzai, former Afghanistan assistant coach, who is currently working with Afghanistan's U-19 team, feels it is just a bad phase for Rashid Khan.
"He is tough as nails. He is going to grind it out of this phase. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also gone through such bad phases. Cricketers of such stature know how to get out of such situations," says Ahmadzai .
"The Rashid I know must have watched all his 16 overs several times with the team's video analyst. I am sure he will figure out what is missing in his bowling," he adds.
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