Rashid Khan has been one of the star performers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for eight years. But the early stages of the 2025 edition were tough for the Afghan spin ace.
Returning from a hamstring injury, he struggled in his first few outings for Gujarat Titans — conceding runs and lacking impact. As the tournament wore on, though, he found his rhythm. With seven wickets so far, he admits poor control over line and length cost him early on. In an exclusive chat with Sportstar, Rashid talks spin, the challenges of this season’s pitches, and the road ahead.
You had a tough start to the tournament. How did you deal with that phase, especially coming back from injury?
The pitches haven’t been very helpful for spinners, but even then, I felt I was off with my line and length in the first few games. Earlier, when the surface offered a bit of turn, batters still struggled to find boundaries even if you missed your spot slightly. But that’s not the case now. If you bowl a loose delivery, it almost always goes for four. This season, you have to be spot on with your areas. In those early matches, I gave away too many runs and didn’t pick up many wickets because I wasn’t landing the ball where I should have.
During that period, did you focus on any specific areas to get back into rhythm?
I knew I had to go back to basics — stick to the line and length I’ve trusted for the last nine or ten years and just back myself. As a cricketer, there are times when things don’t go your way, but it’s important not to overthink. The more cluttered your mind gets, the harder it becomes to find a way out.
I focused on staying clear about what I needed to do. With experience, you realise that even when you give 100 per cent, results might not follow immediately. Sometimes a full toss gets you a wicket. Other times, you bowl the perfect delivery and still get hit for four. That’s the nature of the game — you have to accept it and keep moving forward.
With T20 cricket increasingly favouring batters, how does a spinner adapt to the format?
You don’t need to overthink it. For a spinner, the key is to focus on length — consistently hitting that good-length area. When there’s no help from the pitch, your options are limited. Seamers can go for slow bouncers or wide yorkers, but as a spinner, you can’t rely on those. You have to back your strengths, stick to your plans, and execute them well.
Variations like the wrong’un or the flipper should be introduced gradually, once you’re settled. You can’t control how much a pitch will turn or behave, but what you can control is your preparation. If you train hard and stay ready for different scenarios, you won’t feel out of place even on flat wickets.
If Rashid Khan the batter were facing Rashid Khan the bowler, how would you approach it?
(Laughs) Honestly, I’m not sure how I’d play myself! It really depends on the conditions. You have to assess the wicket and plan accordingly.
If there’s some turn, then it becomes difficult for any batter — no matter who it is. When there’s something in the surface, whether it’s swing or spin, it’s much harder for a batter to execute their plans.
But if the pitch is flat and there’s no assistance, the batter knows the ball will come on nicely. So, if Rashid the batter is facing Rashid the bowler, he’ll have to read the conditions, understand what the pitch is doing, and adjust his game.
Gujarat Titans seem more settled this season. What’s been the approach behind the scenes?
We haven’t changed much from last year. From day one, Ashish bhai (head coach Ashish Nehra) has kept things simple — and that’s been the key. Our plans don’t shift based on results. We stick to the process, and everyone is clear about their roles. That clarity has played a big part in our consistency.
We don’t overanalyse. Our meetings last no more than 10 minutes, irrespective of the result. There’s no panic. The focus is always on effort and execution — giving 200 per cent, regardless of the outcome. That mindset, set by Ashish bhai, has really helped us stay grounded and focused.
Would you say a clear understanding of roles has been key to the team’s consistency?
Absolutely. There’s no point in dwelling on the past or focusing on what went wrong, as it can negatively affect your game. This straightforward, hands-on approach has worked well for us.
Rather than spending hours in meetings, we address issues individually on the field and act on them. That’s the best time to discuss matters with the relevant coaches and fix mistakes. Everyone here has enough experience and knows how to approach the game with the right mindset.
How much do you rely on data versus instinct while bowling?
I’m not in favour of match-ups. Every day, the conditions are different, and that’s why people talk about them.
But when you’re on the field, you don’t think about match-ups. There’s no substitute for hitting the right areas — for me, that’s the best match-up between a batter and a bowler.
Even if a bowler has dismissed a batter several times before, there’s no guarantee of success the next time unless he consistently bowls in the right areas. If you focus too much on how a left-hander bowls to a right-hander, you’ll be in a negative frame of mind and won’t bowl at your best. So, rather than getting caught up in match-ups, just focus on the basics.
You bowl at a much quicker pace than traditional leg-spinners. Was that a conscious decision, or did it evolve naturally?
It’s natural for me. My bowling action and run-up don’t allow me to bowl slowly. With the changing nature of wickets, those days when you could bowl slower on turning tracks to deceive the batter are behind us. Nowadays, with batters constantly evolving their game, if you rely solely on slower deliveries, you’re bound to get hit for boundaries.
You have to adapt your speed to the situation. On wickets where a target of 230-240 is easily achievable, slow balls become necessary. But otherwise, you need to stick to a quicker pace.
I’ve always bowled at a faster speed since my early days, and it’s just developed over time.
The IPL is known for helping players refine their skills. What’s one tactical insight you’ve gained from the league that changed your game?
The IPL has definitely transformed my game. Since my debut in 2017, it’s been a game-changer. It’s one of the best leagues in the world.
Performing here completely shifts your mindset and boosts your confidence, which is crucial. If you do well in the IPL, it can take you from zero to hero.
That’s certainly been the case for me. Over the years, it has built my confidence and made me a better cricketer.
The IPL is one of the toughest leagues, constantly testing you, which is an invaluable learning experience for any bowler.
How do you see the role of spinners evolving in the next five years?
It’s hard to predict exactly, as it all depends on whether the surface offers any support. When there’s some assistance for the bowlers, it makes the game more interesting. Bowlers can then utilise their strengths — like the wrong’un or the flipper.
That’s when the game becomes beautiful, as batters are also tested. On a sporting wicket, they need to think about how to handle different situations.
In the next five years, it could be a great contest between batters and spinners, but for that to happen, the wickets need to provide something for the bowlers.