Rashid Khan has long been a superstar in T20 cricket, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His biggest strength is bowling the perfect length again and again, confusing batters with his tricky variations. For years, this Afghan spinner has been a giant in the game, but something’s off in IPL 2025. Playing for Gujarat Titans (GT) since 2022, Rashid has always been their main man. However, in the four matches he’s played this season, he’s taken just one wicket and given away runs at a high rate of 10.21 per over. That’s a big change for someone known for tight bowling.
Right now, Rashid Khan has gone wicketless in three straight games. This has only happened to him once before in the IPL, and both times have come in his last eight matches. Last year, in IPL 2024, he grabbed 10 wickets but let runs leak at 8.40 per over. That was after he came back from a back surgery following the 2023 ODI World Cup. This year, it’s worse, batters are not just blocking him out, they’re hitting him hard. His famous control seems to be missing, and fans are wondering: Is Rashid losing his magic?
A Tough Comeback After Surgery
Rashid’s struggles might tie back to his health. After the 2023 ODI World Cup, he had surgery on his lower back and stayed out of cricket for four months. He returned in 2024, but former Australia player Shane Watson thinks the injury still affects him. “Rashid hasn’t been at his best,” Watson said in a chat with the media. “He’s not hitting that perfect length like he used to. Before, he rarely bowled short or too full. Maybe his body is still adjusting after the surgery.”
Watson believes Rashid is a champion who will bounce back. “He’s working on getting his variations right again. It might take time, but you don’t count out someone like him,” he added. Since coming back, Rashid has been super busy. He played for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, GT in the IPL, and teams in leagues like Major League Cricket (MLC), the Hundred, SA20, and Afghanistan’s Shpageeza T20. All this travel and cricket could be wearing him down, even if GT’s physios haven’t found a clear problem yet.
What Recovery Really Takes
Getting back to top form after back surgery isn’t easy. Ramji Srinivasan, a former strength coach for India, explains why. “Recovery depends on many things,” he says. “It can take 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. The surgery might go well, but rehab, strength training, nutrition, and mindset all matter too. If any of these aren’t done right, it slows you down.”
He also talks about “workload management,” a term people use a lot. “It’s a big idea,” Ramji says. “It’s not just about training. Coaches, physios, players, and recovery experts all need to work together.” Rashid’s packed schedule, jumping from one tournament to another, might mean he hasn’t had enough rest or proper recovery time. Plus, he’s faced more injuries lately: a hamstring issue in the Hundred in 2024, a back problem in August, and another hamstring pull in September. These could all add up.
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A New Challenge from Batters
In past IPL seasons, batters often played Rashid carefully. They’d try to face his four overs without losing wickets and attack other bowlers instead. But now, they’re going after him. This shift started in 2024 when he took fewer wickets (10 in 14 games) and went for more runs. In 2025, it’s even clearer, he’s leaking runs and not stopping the flow like before. His magic seems less effective, and batters look more confident against him.
Just a Rough Patch?
Not everyone thinks Rashid is done. Raees Ahmadzai, who used to help coach Afghanistan and now works with their U-19 team, believes it’s just a bad phase. “Rashid is tough,” he says. “Even big players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have had slumps. Stars like him know how to fight back.” Ahmadzai adds, “I bet Rashid has watched his bowling over and over with the team’s video analyst. He’ll figure out what’s wrong and fix it.”
At 26, Rashid is still young, but his body has been through a lot. His IPL 2025 numbers so far, one wicket in four games, don’t match the player who once ruled T20 cricket. Before joining GT, he took 93 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad at a tight 6.33 runs per over. With GT since 2022, he’s grabbed 57 wickets, but his economy has jumped to 7.75. This year, it’s even higher.
So, is Rashid Khan losing his mystery? Maybe not forever. His back surgery, busy schedule, and recent injuries might explain this dip. Plus, batters are learning how to face him better. But if anyone can turn it around, it’s Rashid. He’s a fighter with a track record of winning games.
The post Is Afghanistan’s Star Spinner Rashid Khan Losing His Magic in IPL? appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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