In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s premier spinner, etched his name into the annals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by becoming the third-fastest bowler to reach the milestone of 150 wickets. This remarkable achievement came during the Gujarat Titans’ opening match against the Punjab Kings, despite the Titans suffering a narrow 11-run defeat.
Rashid’s single wicket in the match was enough to surpass India’s Jasprit Bumrah in the record books. The Afghan maestro reached the 150-wicket mark in 122 matches, trailing only behind Yuzvendra Chahal, who achieved the feat in 118 matches, and Lasith Malinga, who did so in a mere 105 matches.
Beyond his wicket-taking prowess, Rashid’s bowling statistics are equally impressive. His career average of 22.00 is second only to Malinga’s 19.79, while his economy rate of 6.83 is bettered only by Sunil Narine’s 6.73 among the top wicket-takers in the IPL.
The 26-year-old spinner has found consistent success in the IPL with his effective leg-break googly. However, in this particular match against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, he struggled on a batting-friendly pitch. Rashid conceded 48 runs in his four overs at an economy rate of 12.00, managing only one wicket. His sole success came against debutant Priyansh Arya.
The Kings were dominating the powerplay with a run rate exceeding 12 when Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill introduced Rashid into the attack. The spinner’s tossed-up delivery induced Priyansh to play a loose shot, resulting in a top edge that was caught by Sai Sudharsan, dismissing the batter for a quick 47 off 23 balls.
Apart from this wicket, Rashid had a challenging evening as Punjab Kings posted a formidable total of 243/5. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 97, while Shashank Singh contributed with an unbeaten 44.
Despite a valiant effort in their chase, the Gujarat Titans fell short by 11 runs on their home ground. The match showcased the highs and lows of T20 cricket, with Rashid Khan’s record-breaking performance overshadowed by the team’s defeat.
Quickest to 150 IPL wickets (by innings):
1. Lasith Malinga – 105 matches
2. Yuzvendra Chahal – 118 matches
3. Rashid Khan – 122 matches