Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya has defended Rashid Khan’s recent performances in the IPL, saying the Afghan spinner may not be finding form after a quiet spell. Rashid was instrumental in Gujarat Titans’ title win in 2022 and their run to the finals in 2023, taking 19 wickets in 2022 and 27 in 2023.
Since back surgery in 2024Rashid’s impact has softened. He took 10 wickets in 12 matches in IPL 2024 and 9 wickets in 15 matches in 2025. However, he showed signs of a return to form in Gujarat’s recent win over Delhi Capitals, taking three wickets for 17 runs in four overs.
Ahead of Gujarat’s match against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow, Dahiya praised Rashid as a master bowler and highlighted his consistent performances across global leagues. He emphasized that players of Rashid’s caliber do not need to reinvent their game all the time.
“Players like Rashid don’t need to add new things to their game. It’s not easy when you play for so long. Rashid is a master bowler,” said Dahiya ahead of the match against Lucknow Super Giants.
He added: “He’s performed in every country, every league, in every condition. So your expectations become such that if he has a regular season, people feel he’s underperformed.”
Rashid took 707 wickets in 522 T20 matches during his career, maintaining an average of 18.47 and an economy rate of 6.59. These numbers reflect his consistent excellence in the shortest format.
‘RASHID ALWAYS GIVE HIS 100 PERCENT’
Dahiya also noted Rashid’s dedication on the field and stated that the spinner always gives his all in all aspects of the game.
“Rashid always gives 100 per cent, be it with the ball, the bat or on the field,” Dahiya said.
Gujarat Titans will enter the match against Lucknow Super Giants buoyed by a narrow one-run win over Delhi Capitals in the previous match.
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Published on:
11 Apr 2026 17:27 IST
