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Retained by Gujarat Titans (GT) for Rs 1.3 crore, left-arm pacer and lower order batter Arshad Khan has been warming the benches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. With Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna doing the job for Titans with help from tearaway pacer Ashok Sharma, Arshad has not managed to sneak into the playing eleven or as an impact player. But, the pacer is focusing on his preparation and understands why he has not been given a chance.
“Even if I’m not playing, my preparation is always for the match, my plans for bowling and how I read the pitch,” Arshad told Sportstar ahead of the clash against Mumbai Indians (MI).
“You can’t put yourself ahead of players like Rabada, Siraj or Prasidh. They are international players. Ashok (Ashok Sharma) is on an extraordinary run. So the focus shifts to preparation.” he added.
In the previous season, Arshad played nine games and picked up six wickets at an average of 36.16 and economy rate of 10.33. Rabada’s absence due to a one-month ban for drug use was one of the reasons why he played as many as nine games.
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Currently, Arshad is looking to watch and learn from the high-profile pacers.
“You learn a lot by watching how they prepare for matches, how they train, how they recover,” said the 28-year-old.
Arshad praises GT bowlers
In the age of 200-plus scores being common, Arshad is of opinion that it is the bowlers who win the games. He also lauded GT bowling attack for not letting the opposition post mammoth total against them at home despite bowling-friendly conditions.
“It’s not like every match is 230 or 240. In Gujarat’s matches up until now, we haven’t conceded such big totals. If the conditions offer even a little help, scores come down quickly. If you take wickets early, you can restrict teams to 150 or 160.
“Matches are still won by bowlers. The value of bowlers is high even in the present. The bowling unit which is capable of beating any team still wins the tournament,” he added.
Big names wait for a turn
Not just Arshad, GT have plenty of pacers waiting in the wings. Pace-bowling all-rounder Jason Holder, Luke Wood, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Brar are yet to get a game.
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