Rashid Khan in action (Source: AP Photos)
Rashid Khan, once regarded as cricket's premier T20 spinner and a match-winner across franchises worldwide, has experienced an alarming decline in performance over recent IPL seasons. The Afghanistan leg-spinner, who was a cornerstone of Gujarat Titans' bowling attack, has transformed from being a game-changing asset to a concerning liability.
The Statistical Downfall Of Rashid Khan
Examining Rashid's IPL numbers reveals a disturbing trend. His wicket-taking ability has plummeted dramatically, with his average wickets per match falling from 1.30 historically to just 0.73 in 2024 – a staggering 44% decrease. Simultaneously, his economy rate has worsened from 6.91 to 8.90, making him significantly more expensive while taking fewer wickets.
Most concerning is his bowling average (runs conceded per wicket), which has deteriorated from 21.27 historically to a dismal 43.55 in 2024 – more than double. His strike rate has similarly declined, now requiring nearly 30 balls to take a wicket compared to his previous rate of 18.48.
Phase-wise Effectiveness Collapse Of Rashid Khan
The breakdown of Rashid's performance by match phase reveals where his decline has been most pronounced. Historically, Rashid dominated the middle overs (7-15), where he was deployed as a wicket-taking weapon. In 2023, he maintained reasonable effectiveness here with 15 wickets and an economy of 7.59. By 2024, this had collapsed to just 3 wickets with a higher economy of 8.28.
Perhaps most alarming is his death overs performance, where his economy has ballooned to 12.54 in 2024 (compared to 8.66 in 2023), making him a liability during crucial match phases. This decline in formerly peak periods explains why captains are increasingly hesitant to bowl him at critical junctures.
Entry Points and Usage Patterns
Analysis of Rashid's bowling entry points reveals a significant shift in how he's being utilized. Historically, his three most frequent overs were the 7th, 9th, and 8th – the heart of the middle overs where he specialized in breaking partnerships. In these pivotal overs, his effectiveness has plummeted from an economy of 6.31 historically to 7.55 in 2024, while his wicket-taking has all but disappeared (from averaging 26 wickets to just 2).
Teams now appear increasingly reluctant to use Rashid in his traditional role, instead scattering his overs differently across the innings, including more powerplay and death overs appearances – phases where his unique skills are less impactful.
From Asset to Liability
The statistics paint a clear picture: Rashid Khan is no longer the match-winner he once was. Teams are now targeting him rather than playing him cautiously, resulting in more runs and fewer wickets. His inconsistency has made him a tactical vulnerability rather than a strategic advantage.
For franchise owners paying premium rates for his services, the return on investment has diminished dramatically. With alternative spinners offering better economy rates and wicket-taking potential, Rashid's position as an automatic selection is increasingly questionable.
Unless he can significantly reinvent his approach, adapt his variations, or recapture the deception that made him lethal, Rashid risks continuing this downward trajectory – a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can change in T20 cricket's high-pressure ecosystem.
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