Legendary India spinner Anil Kumble has raised concerns regarding Rashid Khan’s recent form, suggesting that the Afghan star has lost some of the clinical precision that once defined his bowling. While Rashid still possesses a vast array of skillful variations, Kumble believes the fear factor he once held over batters has diminished, particularly in the T20 format. Consequently, the former Indian captain warned that Rashid might not be the same match-winning force for the Gujarat Titans during the 2026 IPL season.
Anil Kumble feels Rashid Khan won’t be as dominant for Gujarat Titans
Kumble further noted that the rise of other elite spinners has caused Rashid’s once-unique "novelty" to fade. He pointed out that since there are now several bowlers performing at a similar level, batters have become more accustomed to the challenges Rashid presents. In Kumble’s view, the aura of invincibility that once surrounded the leg-spinner is no longer as prominent as it was in previous years.
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I think the novelty of Rashid Khan has worn off a little: Kumble
To counter this potential decline, Kumble advised the Gujarat Titans management to focus on managing Rashid’s workload more effectively ahead of the new season. He suggested that the team should transition away from over-reliance on the Afghan international by placing more responsibility on their domestic spin duo, Washington Sundar and R Sai Kishore. By empowering these local talents, Kumble believes GT can maintain a balanced bowling attack even if Rashid is less effective.
"I think the novelty of Rashid Khan has worn off a little. There are many similar bowlers available now, so he is not as intimidating as before. His workload has to be managed more, along with bowlers like Sai Kishore. Even Rahul Tewatia and Washington Sundar can contribute more for GT this season," Kumble expressed via JioStar.
Meanwhile, former India's star commentator Irfan Pathan also has an advice for GT. He believes that GT must prioritise maximising the potential of Jason Holder after securing the Caribbean all-rounder for 7.00
"Their bet on Jason Holder is interesting. He is an amazing bowler with the new ball, but his batting has improved, especially his six-hitting abilities. GT has put a lot of faith in that. Their main strength is their top three batters: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. How they use Washington Sundar will be important, as his batting has gotten better too. The role of Glenn Phillips, or whoever plays at number four or five, will also be very big," Pathan said.