Ignore The Numbers! Why Afghanistan Can't Afford To Drop Rahmanullah Gurbaz Vs Sri Lanka

Rahmanullah Gurbaz's form under scanner in Asia Cup [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/X.com]

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 23, is one of Afghanistan’s most explosive and fearless young batters of the modern-day generation. Since making his debut in 2019, Gurbaz has hit 1824 runs in 73 T20Is with a 24.98 average, a 132.26 strike rate, 1 hundred, 10 fifties, 138 fours and a whopping 101 sixes.

However, Gurbaz’s recent form in the T20 format has been mediocre, and what concerns Afghanistan is that it's not a short-term blip.

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz Dealing With Prolonged Form Dip

After a decent run in 2024, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s form suddenly dipped from the beginning of 2025. In ILT20, he hit 7 runs in 3 innings, followed by 16 runs in the Champions Trophy, which was held in the ODI format.

Representing Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he could muster only 74 runs in five innings. His struggles continued in the UAE tri-series, where he scored 98 runs at an average of 19.60. 

The Asia Cup 2025 has done little to improve his fortunes. In his last two innings, he has scored just 43 runs at a 21.50 average. What is particularly worrying is that these failures do not appear to be isolated instances but part of a longer decline in form.

Afghanistan Have No Bench Strength To Fill Gurbaz’s Void

That being said, even if Afghanistan wish to drop to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, even for the sake of a short break to reset, sadly, they do not have the bench strength to do so. 

On the bench, the Afghans have inexperienced batter Darwish Rasooli and wicket-keeper Mohammad Ishaq, who have played 13 and 6 T20Is, respectively. 

In a must-win contest against Sri Lanka, where their Asia Cup campaign is on the line, trusting inexperienced players could prove to be suicidal for Afghanistan. Consequently, the team has little choice but to continue backing Gurbaz.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz Could Seek Redemption Against Sri Lanka

(Table - Rahmanullah Gurbaz's T20Is stats vs Sri Lanka)

For Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 encounter against Sri Lanka could be a blessing in disguise, given how he has enjoyed batting against them in the T20I format. 

In just 6 innings, the opener has smacked 248 runs with a 41.33 average, a 172.22 strike rate, 2 fifties, 19 fours and 14 sixes. Not only that, but at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi alone, he has 231 runs in 11 T20I innings with a 135.08 strike rate, including a half-century.

Hence, the optics are in favour of Gurbaz to seek redemption. However, he cannot turn things around with the same approach. 

What Gurbaz Should Do Differently To Regain Form?

First and foremost, Rahmanullah Gurbaz needs to take confidence from his earlier successes against Sri Lanka and refrain from the temptation to over-hit on the UAE slow tracks. Patience and selectivity will be key, particularly against spin-heavy bowling attacks.

He must build momentum, value his wicket and craft a gritty knock. Another thing Gurbaz needs to focus on is rotating the strike well so Sri Lankan bowlers don’t settle into a rhythm. 

Lastly, the 23-year-old should bat patiently. Dancing down the track on every other ball with the intent to attack does not work on slow pitches such as the ones available in the UAE. 

Overall, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to get the necessary backing from Afghanistan. Now, it's up to him how he uses these golden chances. If the 23-year-old plays his cards right, he can become an overnight hero for keeping Afghanistan’s hopes in the Asia Cup 2025 alive.

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