Afghanistan ace spinner Rashid Khan has opened up about the struggles he faced after returning to Test cricket too soon following a back surgery, admitting it had a lasting impact on his disappointing performances in the Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. Khan, who underwent a back surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup, made his Test comeback in January 2025 in a series against Zimbabwe, a decision he now believes was a mistake.
Rashid revealed that he had been advised not to jump straight into the longest format after such a lengthy layoff. However, he bowled close to 55 overs in that match, which he says took a toll on his body ahead of the Champions Trophy and the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“When I came back after surgery, I was told not to rush back to longer format that quickly, that isn’t going to be good for you. When I came after 8-9 months, I played Test cricket. I bowled 55 overs and that really pushed my back a little bit. I felt I shouldn’t have been in whites, I mean T20 is fine,” Khan told ESPN Cricinfo.
The Afghanistan star endured a tough run in the Champions Trophy, playing just three matches and taking one wicket in the tournament. His struggles continued in the IPL 2025, where he scalped nine wickets from 15 games for Gujarat Titans. Known for his misery bowling in T20s, he recorded an economy rate of 9.34, a disappointing hike from his career mark of 7.08.
The wrist-spinner admitted that at the time, he did not realise the repercussions it would cause, but later understood he had “made a mistake.” Rashid said the only way to recover was to take some time off and allow his body to heal properly.
In January 2025, Zimbabwe locked horns with Afghanistan for a two-match Test series. Although Rashid Khan did not play the first Test, which ended in a draw, he made a roaring comeback in the second, finishing with 11 wickets in the match. Afghanistan won the match by 72 runs, winning the series 1-0, with Khan named the Player of the Match.
