Gujarat Titans’ spinner Rashid Khan is under pressure to refine his performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 26-year-old all-rounder is one of the biggest stars in the rise of Afghanistan cricket. Recovering from an early tournament nightmare run, he’s hell-bent on getting command back over his line and length. Despite finishing second on the wickets charts with 27 wickets in 2023, his recent performances have raised concerns about his bowling accuracy, which has long been one of his primary strengths.
Khan’s season has been marked by inconsistency. He has taken just seven wickets in ten matches this season. In his last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he ended up giving away 50 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. This performance has prompted him to reflect on his technique and make necessary adjustments to improve his effectiveness on the field.
Performance Analysis
In the analysis of his new ball bowling, Khan himself admitted he let his standards slip with the execution.
“Even if you see my bowling yesterday, I didn’t bowl even 40 percent of what I’ve been known for – (accurate) line and length,” said Rashid.
In the interview, he added some detail about the need to hit the right spots over and over again to improve his effectiveness.
“It was not that the batters played very good shots. It was about how I missed my line and length, and if I miss my line and length, any batter is going to score runs against me,” he added.
Khan isn’t blind to what’s gone wrong, with the playoffs on the horizon he knows they’ll need to improve greatly. He is committed to refining his skills.
“The next game I play, I’ll just focus on hitting the right area consistently, and that’s something which will make me more effective,” he remarked.
Competing with Teammates
Khan’s struggles have come at interesting times with fantastic performances from his fellow spinners at Gujarat Titans. R Sai Kishore has claimed 12 wickets in ten matches, while fellow Afghan spinner Noor Ahmed has taken 15 wickets for Chennai Super Kings in the same number of games. The battle for minutes on the team’s crowded roster places extra stress on the young Khan to raise his level.
Khan’s experience and reputation – as one of the most sought-after names in franchise leagues all over the world – is enough to create lofty expectations. As the face of Afghanistan cricket, he carries the burden of not only representing his country but motivating emerging players who look up to him.
Looking Ahead
As the season wears on, Khan sees the need for change in order to make it to playoffs. Being a finger spinner of Asian origin, the importance of his bowling plan, particularly on flat tracks that offer little to no help is extremely valuable.
“Line and length remain very important for me, especially on wickets like these where you don’t get that kind of support and where it’s not spinning much,” he stated.
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