Gujarat Titans (GT)’s Rashid Khan has become only the second spinner in IPL history to take 20 or more wickets in a season four times. The Afghan legend achieved a brilliant recordin the 2026 final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday (May 31) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, getting rid of the opposition skipper Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the same over.
RCB were cruising on 89/2 in the chase of 156 when Rashid was brought into the attack. Venkatesh Iyer opened the innings and scored 32 off 16, coming out swinging like a pinch-hitter. Virat Kohli also smacked the ball at any opportunity he got, and continued to bat at a quick tempo even as Mohammed Siraj got rid of Venkatesh Iyer and Kagiso Rabada sent back
Devdutt Padikkal, for one run each.
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Patidar was batting at 15 (12), and his eyes widened after seeing Rashid — he had never got out to the leg-spinner in T20 cricket previously. But Patidar took him on with a slog and only got it as far as long on for an easy catch for Kagiso Rabada on the boundary ropes.
RCB sent Krunal ahead of bigger names in Tim David and Jitesh Sharma because he had been in this situation before. But Rashid went full, and Krunal completely missed the sweep to get caught plumb in front for an easy LBW decision for the umpire.
Was GT’s use of Rashid Khan accurate?
Shubman Gill will look back at that match and feel his use of Rashid was not right. The pitch was slow and two-paced and Rashid showed in his first over that he could have been the perfect wicket-taker for his side but he wasn’t brought on until RCB had basically run away with the game.
Even then, he was given three overs on the trot and the fourth was saved till the 17th over.
