Watch: ‘Reduces pace…’- Ravichandran Ashwin analyzes Rashid Khan’s downfall after surgery during IPL 2026
The former spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has analyzed the downfall of the veteran leg spinner, Rashid Khan, ater his back surgery during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
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Rashid Khan was phenomenal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the start of his career. But in the last couple of seasons, he has struggled to put the ball in the right area and has been smacked around the park by the power-hitters. In this edition of the event, he has picked up only eight scalps in eight innings at an economy rate of 8.79.
Meanwhile, in the previous season of the competition, Rashid Khan bagged just nine wickets in 15 innings at an average of 57.11, a strike rate of 36.60, and an expensive economy rate of over nine at the best figure of 2/25 in an innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin breaks silence on Rashid’s struggle in IPL 2026
The former spin all-rounder of India, Ravichandran Ashwin, has pointed out how the Afghanistan spinner has been struggling after his back surgery. He also reckoned that the batters had been easily picking the googlies and using their feet to smash the big shots.
“What happened with Rashid in between is very physical. He had surgery, which is never going to be easy. And Rashid is someone who relies a lot on the last stride. There is a huge amount of whip when he lets go of the ball. What happened with the back surgery is that it reduces the pace at which you can finish the action, which meant that his googlies became a lot loopier.” Ashwin expressed on ESPNcricinfo.
Watch the video here:
“Whenever there is a ball in the step-hit zone, the batters are very comfortable in stepping into it, extending their levers to be able to send the ball a long way. For Rashid, as his arm-path and arm-speed were reduced, the ball came out loopy, and the batters could go for the shots.” He addressed this in the video.
The Chennai-born cracked the code of their conversation in which Rashid informed them of how he had felt a bit better in the last few months after the surgery.
“When I spoke to him before the IPL, he felt a lot better. His back is feeling good. He has done two months of rehab, and the evidence is there to see: He’s defeating the batters in the air, and there is a lot more energy in the crease. But is it good enough for him to get back to his best? Only time will answer that.” The experienced off-spinner added.
What does Rashid’s downfall mean for GT in IPL 2026?
When Gujarat won their maiden title of the IPL, Rashid picked up 19 wickets in 16 innings at an average of 22.15 and an economy rate of just 6.59. In the following campaign, he collected 27 wickets in 17 innings at 20.44, when the Titans became the runners-up, losing the final on the very last ball of the game.
But in the last few editions, he has picked only 27 wickets in 35 innings at an average of nearly 40. Gujarat hasn’t been able to use the leg spinner in the middle overs. Time will tell how much this downfall will put pressure on him and the management.
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