The moment I bowled the first ball, I knew there was something for me: Rashid Khan

The world saw the vintage of Rashid Khan in Match 52 of IPL 2026, as he delivered a match-winning haul of 4-33 in his four overs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. His exceptional spell in the middle helped Gujarat Titans pull off a massive 77-run victory against Rajasthan Royals and move to the second spot on the points table on Saturday, May 09.

Rashid was visibly happy after the brilliant performance against the host side. The leg-break googlies of the spinner have been a late bloomer into the season in terms of finding success. However, the 27-year-old is satisfied with the way he is finding his rhythm, which is helping him deliver on the right lines and lengths this season.

Quite happy. It was something unusual for me (last two seasons). This season, more about enjoying myself and hitting the right areas consistently. Happy with that (so far). When I had that surgery, I took only two months to get back. That time, I made a huge mistake (of coming back soon),” he said at the post-match presentation.

Rashid was also given the Player of the Match award for his spell in Jaipur that kept RR batters on their toes all the time. However, it did not come easy for the star cricketer, as he had to work on his fitness immensely. After playing a lot of cricket globally over the past few seasons, the Nangarhar-born knew that he is fine touch the moment he ran in and delivered the first ball.

“Last year, when IPL was over, I had 2-3 months off and tried to work on my fitness. The rhythm I bowl through the crease – it was something I was missing. Had a good Hundred competition and then kept on. The moment I bowled the first ball, I knew there was something for me,” the Afghanistan bowler reflected.

Being a spinner, Rashid knows that pace is as important as any other bowler for him. And it is equally important to read the mind of the batter when he bowls a certain kind of a ball. He knows that sticking to the wicket-to-wicket line is bound to bring him a lot of success.

“Pace was something I was trying to mix up. If I leave the stumps, it gets easy for the batters to take a single or hit a boundary. Wanted to hit a length but also the line. I made that move in my mind – that if I pitch it in the right area, there will be help. The moment it left my hand, I knew,” the cricketer added.

In 11 matches this season so far, Rashid has picked up 15 wickets for GT and is also their second-most successful bowler after Kagiso Rabada. Among spinners, he has the most wickets in 2026 thus far, and will be looking to better the record as the Shubman Gill-led side seems certain to be making it to the playoffs yet again.