The Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by eight wickets on April 2, although former Indian opener Aakash Chopra voiced concerns over the form of the team’s spinner Rashid Khan. The Afghan spinner had a rough game with the ball, even though GT put on a strong showing overall to win their second straight match.
With five maximums from RCB batsman Liam Livingstone, Rashid gave up 54 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. In three games this season, the 26-year-old has taken just one wicket at a pitiful average of 112 and an economy of 11.20.
Chopra discussed Rashid’s subpar play on ESPN Cricinfo by saying:
“If you went on the back foot thinking ‘I am going to read it off the surface’, nine out of ten times you were a sitting duck. But now it doesn’t seem to be the case. You can actually pull him, you can easily guide him for a single and then he is overcompensating with going fuller which again means he is taken for runs.”
Aakash Chopra
He added:
“Last match he bowled only a couple of overs, first game, he wasn’t that impressive either. This match, he has leaked a lot of runs. It is worth looking at whether his speeds have come down a shade. That zip is missing. Maybe the length is just six inches shorter which allows people to play him off the back foot a lot more. Something you couldn’t do in the past.”
Aakash Chopra
With 13 balls remaining, GT easily trounced RCB by eight wickets despite Rashid’s subpar bowling. With a total of 46 wickets in 33 games, the Afghan star was instrumental in GT’s 2022 and 2023 championship run and runners-up position.
“We had this explanation that he is coming back from an injury” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra mentioned in the same conversation how Rashid Khan had a similarly bad season the previous year, but that GT and their supporters were less concerned after his injury comeback. In 12 IPL 2024 games, the 26-year-old took just 10 wickets at an average of 36.70 and an economy of 8.40.
“If it was just one innings, you would say ‘Ok, something has gone wrong’. Last year, we had this explanation that he is coming back from an injury, and bowlers around him are leaking so many runs that he has to bowl in areas that he is not comfortable bowling in. And therefore he is also becoming a part of a mediocre bowling unit. So you become one of the lot.”
Aakash Chopra
Rashid, who has taken 150 wickets in 120 appearances at an amazing average of 22.42 and an economy of 6.91, is still one of the most prolific bowlers in the IPL.
When GT plays the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday, April 6, they will be desperate for Rashid to go back to his best.
