Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

On This Day (Sept 20): Happy B’day, Rashid Khan - The Unmatched Records of the IPL Spin Maestro

Rashid Khan emerged as a teenage prodigy, proving that the T20 format doesn’t just belong to hard-hitting batter

Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, is marking his 26th birthday today. Since his international debut in 2015, he has become one of the most dangerous bowlers in white-ball cricket. In 103 ODIs, Rashid has taken 183 wickets at an average of 20.5, maintaining an incredible economy rate of 4.24. In T20Is, he boasts 152 wickets in just 93 matches at a remarkable average of 14.1 and a stunning strike rate of 13.9, revolutionising spin bowling in the shortest format.

Afghanistan’s spin sensation

Rashid Khan emerged as a teenage prodigy, proving that the T20 format doesn’t just belong to hard-hitting batters. His dominance in the game has drawn comparisons to spin legends like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. While those legends ruled Test and ODI cricket, Rashid is on track to becoming the greatest spinner in T20s. His journey from Afghanistan’s national team to the global stage has been nothing short of phenomenal, making him the face of Afghan cricket.

A record-breaking IPL journey

Khan’s IPL journey began in 2017. The leg-spinner’s impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been extraordinary. Holding the best economy rate in IPL history, he has taken 149 wickets in 121 games at an average of 21.8. His remarkable economy rate of 6.82 stands out, especially among bowlers with at least 65 wickets. Rashid is the only bowler with an economy rate under seven and an average below 22, making him a top-tier performer in IPL’s history of elite spinners.

Dominating two franchises

Rashid holds the unique record of being the only foreign bowler with over 50 wickets for two different franchises. During his five seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he grabbed 93 wickets in 76 games at an economy of 6.33. After moving to Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2022, he added 56 wickets in just 45 games, contributing significantly to GT’s title win in their debut season with 19 wickets. His consistent performances across two teams highlight his immense value in the league.

Batting feats to remember

Not just known for his bowling, Rashid showcased his batting prowess in 2023 when he slammed an unbeaten 79* from just 32 balls against Mumbai Indians. This innings, featuring ten sixes, set a record for the highest score by a batter at number eight or lower in IPL history. No other batter at that position has struck as many sixes in a T20 game, making Rashid’s knock a rare and exciting achievement.

A rare double

That same match against Mumbai Indians saw Rashid claim a brilliant four-wicket haul (4/30) along with his stunning knock. This rare double of a fifty and four wickets in a single match in IPL history has been achieved by only two other players, Yuvraj Singh and Mitchell Marsh. Despite the loss, Rashid’s individual performance stood out, showing his all-round brilliance.

Milestones and consistency

Before taking a four-wicket haul in IPL 2022, Rashid had picked up 108 wickets without ever taking four in a single match, a rare feat in itself. Eventually, he broke that streak with a match-winning 4/24 against Lucknow Super Giants.

Additionally, Rashid took 126 wickets in his first 100 IPL matches, second only to Lasith Malinga. His economy rate of 6.56 in those matches is the best among bowlers who’ve played 100 innings or more.

Youngest to 100 IPL wickets

In 2022, Rashid Khan became the youngest player in IPL history to claim 100 wickets, achieving this milestone at just 23 years and 215 days old. This incredible feat broke Piyush Chawla’s previous record, cementing Rashid’s place as one of the most talented young bowlers the league has ever seen.