Rashid Khan: rushing back from surgery cost me 2025
The Afghanistan spinner returned to IPL play just two months after back surgery, took only 9 wickets in 15 games, and now says the decision set back his season by a year.
Rashid Khan has admitted he made a critical error by returning to IPL cricket too soon after back surgery. Two months post-operation, he felt ready. He wasn't.
IPL 2025 exposed the cost. Nine wickets across 15 matches. His form flatlined. By 2026, with proper recovery behind him, he took 15 wickets in 11 games—including 4 for 33 against Rajasthan Royals.
The IPL schedule didn't help. Seventy-four matches compressed into seven weeks leaves no space for genuine rehabilitation. Rashid knew surgeons recommend three to six months after such procedures. He gave himself two. Back spasms lingered through the season. Gujarat Titans paid the price, losing momentum mid-year when their lead spinner wasn't fully fit.
His public acknowledgment points to a wider tension in cricket: players chase immediate opportunity—paydays, squad selection, team needs—while bodies demand time. Peak performance rarely survives that trade-off.
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- DevelopingMay 9, 2026 · CricHubb Desk