Kamal Ghorui
MUMBAI: Rashid Khan remains confident that Gujarat Titans will bounce back despite losing their first two matches of IPL-2026, even as the Afghanistan T20I captain admitted he is unsure about playing the one-off Test against India in June due to concerns over his back.Rashid, who led Gujarat Titans in their previous game against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad with regular skipper Shubman Gill sidelined due to back spasms, said the team is not far from turning things around.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Gill didn’t want to take a risk. We still have a long tournament ahead. We’ve lost a couple of very close games — one while defending 163 and the other chasing 211. We were in the game both times, but didn’t finish well. There are still 12 matches left, and we’ll take the learnings and come back stronger,” Rashid told TOI.The 27-year-old leg-spinner, who underwent back surgery in November 2023, said he will take a call on the Test against India in New Chandigarh (June 6–10) based on how his body responds.“To be honest, after the surgery, I wasn’t allowed to play Test cricket for two to three years. The doctor told me that if I want a longer career, that’s the one format I should avoid because of the workload,” Rashid said.“In my last Test, I bowled 55 overs. For someone coming back from back surgery, that’s a big risk. So we’ll think about the Test match. But I’m definitely looking forward to the ODIs against India — it will be an exciting series for us,” he added.Rashid last played a Test in January 2025 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, where he returned figures of 4/94 and 7/66 in a 72-run win.Once among the most feared bowlers in the IPL, especially during his time with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rashid has seen a dip in returns in recent seasons. In IPL-2025, he managed nine wickets in 15 matches at an average of 57.11 and an economy rate of 9.34, and has picked up two wickets in two games so far this season.However, Rashid insists his dip in form has little to do with his injury.“To be honest, it’s not about the injury. Last year, I just missed my length and line, which didn’t allow me to be at the level I’ve maintained over the last six or seven years,” he said. “In the last two games, I feel I’ve hit 90-95% of the areas I wanted to, and that’s a good sign.”Rashid also pointed to changing conditions in the IPL, with flatter pitches and rising totals making life tougher for bowlers.“Two or three years ago, no one thought teams would score 300. Now people are talking about it. If teams are scoring 230-240 regularly, you can’t expect to bowl four overs for 10 runs and two wickets,” he said. “Earlier, 180-190 was a good total. Now, even defending 220 is difficult. The pitches are flatter, and the support for spinners isn’t the same, but for me it’s about improving myself.”
