Rashid Khan admits he rushed back to cricket too early after back surgery

The tweaker went under the knife after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He only took two months off before going back to a full schedule, including a Test match against Zimbabwe in January 2025 where he bowled 54 overs.

Khan pushed through the 2025 Indian Premier League, taking just nine wickets in his 15 matches. After the T20 extravaganza, he took three months off to rehabilitate his lower back. And it's paid off.

The Nangarhar native scooped 11 wickets in his seven T20I's this year and now has been in top form in the IPL. On Saturday, he took 4/33 to help the Gujarat Titans to a win over the Rajasthan Royals. The four-wicket haul took his 2026 IPL tally to 15 wickets in 11 matches.

"When I had a surgery," reflected Rashid after the match.

"I took only two months to get back on the field, and that was something that I did in a hurry. I felt that time I made a huge mistake, to be in the centre that soon, but I had to come back for Afghanistan and, and play those games.

"I think last year when IPL was over, I had two to three months totally off, and I tried my best to work on my fitness, and most importantly, my back, to be back on. I think the rhythm, I go through the crease, I think that was something I was missing. After that, I had a good time in the centre and I had a good 100-ball competition and then just kept on."

The victory took GT to second on the IPL table with just three matches to go before the playoffs.