The early stages of the 2025 Indian Premier League proved challenging for Rashid Khan. Returning from a hamstring injury, the Afghanistan spinner struggled in his initial outings for Gujarat Titans, conceding runs and failing to make an impact.
But as the tournament progressed, Rashid regained his rhythm. With seven wickets so far, he admits that poor control over line and length cost him early on.
“Wickets are not as supportive for spinners as they should be, but I still feel that in the first few games, I missed my line and length a bit…,” Rashid told Sportstar.
“Earlier, when pitches offered some turn, batters still struggled to find boundaries even if you missed your line or length — but that’s changed now….,” he added.
Rashid has been a key figure for the Gujarat-based side since joining in 2022. He played a pivotal role in the team’s title-winning debut season and the runner-up finish that followed. Although Gujarat missed the playoffs last year, it has bounced back strongly and currently sits second on the points table.
According to Rashid, a clear understanding of roles has been central to the team’s consistency. “We haven’t done anything different from what we did last year…,” he said.
He credits head coach Ashish Nehra for creating a simple, consistent environment. “From day one, Ashish bhai kept the team in the same way, and it never changed. We don’t discuss too much and our plans don’t change depending on the results…”
Rashid emphasised that Gujarat’s success stems from sticking to the basics and not overcomplicating things. “We know what the process is, what’s to be done, and things are very clear for every player…”
Rather than overanalysing defeats, the Titans trust their process. “It’s not like we have long meetings if we lose a game. Our meetings last about 10 minutes, irrespective of the result. The players have a clear idea about their roles, and we are expected to follow that process and put in our 200 per cent effort.
“There is no point dwelling over the past and talking about what went wrong… That’s the best time to discuss things with the concerned coaches and rectify your errors…”
This direct, hands-on approach has become the norm. “Instead of spending hours in the meetings, we address issues individually on the ground and act accordingly…”
Gujarat Titans heads into its next match on the back of a convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. It will face table-topper Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.