Rashid Khan says the back surgery is finally behind him. The leg-spinner, back taking wickets for Gujarat Titans, has accepted that his dash to return to cricket last year did more harm than good.
“When I had a surgery,” Rashid recalled, “I took only two months to get back on the field, and that was something that I did in a hurry. I felt that time I made a huge mistake, to be in the centre that soon, but I had to come back for Afghanistan and, and play those games.”
The numbers underline the point. In IPL 2025 he managed nine wickets across 15 matches; this season he already has 15 in 11. The difference, he believes, is the extra time he finally allowed himself.
“I think last year when IPL was over, I had two-three months totally off, and I tried my best to work on my fitness, and most importantly, my back, to be back on,” he said. “I think the rhythm, I go through the crease, I think that was something I was missing. After that, I had a good time in the centre and I had a good 100-ball competition and then just kept on.”
Jaipur on Saturday offered the clearest evidence yet. Gujarat had posted 229 and removed three Rajasthan Royals wickets before calling on Rashid in the seventh over. The home side were flying at 86 for 3, scoring at more than twelve an over. Rashid’s response was immediate: two wickets, both bowled.
“Yeah, the moment I bowled the first ball, I knew that there is something for me, but it’s just about making sure you mix it up in the pace,” he explained later. “I was trying to mix it up and hit the right area consistently, and don’t leave the stumps. I feel like if I leave the stumps, it becomes easier for the batter to take a single or hit it for a boundary, but the most important part was, for me, that, yes, I want to hit the length, but more important it’s the line, and it should be on those three stumps.”
Dhruv Jurel, full of early intent, lost his off stump. Two balls later Donovan Ferreira, yet to settle, received the leg-break Rashid had visualised. “Yeah, I had that in my mind. I made that movie in my mind before that. I feel like if I pitched it in the right area, there is some help, and I can get that wicket. So as soon as it went from my hand, I knew it’s going to come.”
The Royals never really recovered from 88 for 5. Shubham Dubey and Ravindra Jadeja fell later to complete Rashid’s 4 for 33, and Titans strolled to a 77-run win that keeps their play-off hopes alive.
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha, on television duty, suggested the old craft has returned. “He looks lighter through the crease,” Ojha observed, “and that gentle drift is back.” Titans captain Shubman Gill agreed, saying, “When Rashid is in that mood the rest of us can relax a bit.”
No outlandish declarations from Rashid himself, just a nod to process and patience. “If the body is right, everything follows,” he said with a smile, mindful of last year’s rush. This time, things are moving at a pace he can trust.
