Rashid Khan said that though he was relishing his return for Gujarat Titans, he was not sure whether he would play Test cricket regularly. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Rashid Khan was quick to interject when a query on Wednesday night alluded to his returns in the IPL last season. 

“Don’t remind me of it. It was a very bad season,” the Gujarat Titans leggie quipped, eliciting a ripple of laughter from the media.

The Afghan spinner was referring to nine scalps in 15 matches at an economy of 9.34. It may have made some wonder whether his magic was on the wane.

Unperturbed, the 27-year-old showed on Wednesday night that his genius can still tilt a T20 game. He produced splendid figures of 4-0-17-3 in a high-scoring joust as Titans beat Delhi Capitals by one run.

“Well, last year, I had a bad season where I hadn’t bowled that well. It’s just about your line and length. I feel that’s something I missed last year. I gave myself a couple of months off after the last IPL. I focused on fitness. That’s something which I can improve, and that does allow my body to bowl with full rhythm,” Rashid reflected.

Having battled for rhythm after back surgery in 2023, Rashid doesn’t envisage active participation in red-ball cricket anymore. His last Test was against Zimbabwe in January 2025. With Afghanistan scheduled to play India in a one-off Test in June, he said: “It’s a little difficult in red-ball cricket, because the first thing told to me by the doctor was to stay away from that. I will take one Test in a year, but I don’t think I can play more than that. I have already played one against India before, so I may take it easy and get myself ready for the ODI World Cup.”

Published on Apr 09, 2026