Kumble: Rashid Khan Losing Intimidation Factor in T20s

Anil Kumble, a titan of Indian cricket, has delivered a candid assessment of Afghanistan’s star spinner, Rashid Khan, suggesting his ‘novelty’ is wearing off and impacting his intimidation factor. Speaking ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Kumble noted that Rashid is no longer the same formidable threat he was in earlier years. Kumble cited Rashid’s performance in IPL 2025 as a key indicator, where the Gujarat Titans bowler secured a career-low nine wickets at a concerning average of 57.11. His economy rate also suffered, and he conceded a record number of sixes, indicating batsmen have found ways to counter his variations. The former Indian spinner believes that the element of surprise, once Rashid’s greatest asset, has diminished as opponents have become more accustomed to his skills. Kumble also emphasized that Gujarat Titans will need greater contributions from left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, and all-rounders Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, to bolster their bowling attack for IPL 2026. He stressed the importance of managing Rashid’s workload effectively.