Novelty of Rashid Khan has worn off a little, not as intimidating as before, says Kumble ahead of IPL 2026
In a post‑match interview, former India captain Anil Kumble said the 2022 IPL champions, Gujarat Titans (GT), will need to find new sources of firepower now that the Afghan leg‑spinner Rashid Khan is no longer as dominant. Kumble added that Rashid’s “novelty” has faded, and that the team should rely more on their left‑arm spinner Sai Kishore and the all‑rounders Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia to stay competitive in future seasons.
The Titans, who were eliminated in the second‑elimination match of the 2025 IPL, had a strong bowling lineup in the past, but Rashid’s performance slipped dramatically. In the 2025 season he took only nine wickets at an average of 57.11, bowling at an economy of 9.35. He also gave away 33 sixes, the most by any bowler in a single IPL campaign, as batsmen found ways to beat his variations.
Kumble, who once played for Royal Challengers Bengal and coached Punjab Kings, said that the team’s left‑arm spinner Sai Kishore must be managed carefully to keep Rashid healthy. He highlighted how other bowlers can step up, noting that players like Tewatia and Sundar could take on larger roles for GT in the coming matches.
Rashid first joined the IPL in 2017 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, then signed for GT in 2022, helping them claim the title in their debut season. His performance in 2024 was also modest, taking 10 wickets in 12 games with a 36.70 bowling average and an 8.40 economy. The former Afghanistan star has attributed his recent struggles in the shortest format to a back operation in 2023, which followed his participation in the men’s ODI World Cup in India. He returned to competitive cricket only a few months after the surgery, giving him little time to regain his usual pace and accuracy.
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