Back in rhythm, back in business for Rashid Khan

It was a night built for batting. Gujarat Titans' 210 seemed sub-par at the halfway mark and was only just defended off the final ball. A 200 vs 200 game that typically renders bowlers ineffective. Yet Rashid Khan stood out with figures of 3/17 and an economy of 4.25 on a night every bowler around him was taken to the cleaners. In Delhi, under lights, Rashid turned back the clock with a miserly spell that stalled the Delhi Capitals' charge.

For his first couple of overs, the DC batters were content to turn over the strike. In his third, Rashid had Nitish Rana miscue a slog off a wrong 'un to long-on. Then, on the last ball of the over, Rashid handed Delhi's in-form batter Sameer Rizvi a golden duck with a ripping googly that rattled the stumps. Bowled out by the 14th over, Rashid capped his spell by dismissing Axar Patel with a well-planned googly from around the wicket.

Each of Rashid's three victims fell for single-digit scores. All three are proven players of spin, and each fell to the strategic googly they knew was coming. For the last two IPL editions, the question had lingered: Had batters finally caught up with Rashid? In Delhi, the answer was an emphatic 'not just yet'.

After a successful IPL 2023, Rashid played the ODI World Cup against medical advice. A chronic back issue flared up severely, requiring a procedure that ruled him out until early 2024. Post-surgery, Rashid seemed a shadow of his former self. His pace dropped, his lengths wavered, and his accuracy suffered. The intimidation factor key to his T20 dominance went missing.

The numbers were telling. In IPL 2024, he took just 10 wickets in 12 games at an average of 36.70 and an economy of 8.40. In 2025, it worsened: nine wickets in 15 innings at an average of 57.11 and an economy of 9.34.

After his least impressive season in ten years, Rashid took a three-month break. He focused on switching off and improving his fitness, realizing a cautionary approach had become a habit.

"After the surgery, I was very careful with my back. That affected my bowling action and release. I was trying to be careful, but I missed my rhythm. I was deliberately trying to bowl slow for months," Rashid revealed.

"After a bad season I thought, 'what's wrong?' I felt it was the whole rhythm. There was still a bit of pain. I was scared of what would happen if I pushed it again. So I gave myself a few months after the last IPL and focused on my fitness. Working on my fitness allows my body to bowl with full rhythm."

An increased focus on core strength helped Rashid regain his speed and hit the right lengths again. A good outing at the Hundred 2025 followed, and he felt back at his best.

On Wednesday, in his third game of IPL 2026, Rashid was challenging both edges of the bat and getting the ball to spin both ways. With his speed back, all he needed was the right length.

Rashid Khan vs DC, IPL 2026 (by lengths)

There was no grand mystery or new variation behind the turnaround.

"As a bowler you can't add so many variations and end up confused. You need a few good ones with control. For me, hitting the right areas consistently is more important—whether I bowl leg-spin, a wrong 'un, or a flipper. That's the challenge," Rashid said.

"There will be times you get a flat wicket, but you have to see your line and lengths. If I bowl badly, anybody can hit me. As a bowler, you should think, 'what's the toughest ball I can bowl here to make it harder for the batter?' If you bowl where he wants, with these short boundaries, no total is safe. Control is what's important."

Rashid's philosophy worked perfectly in Delhi. On a surface offering bowlers little margin for error, he reminded everyone that even in batting-friendly conditions, mastering the basics can still turn matches.