In a candid conversation with Cricbuzz, Afghanistan's leg-spin maestro Rashid Khan opened up about his journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL), now in its 10th season for him. Once hailed as the most dominant T20 spinner in the world, Rashid has faced a dip in form over the past two seasons, managing only 10 and 9 wickets respectively—well below his usual tally of at least 17 per season. His economy rate, once consistently below 7, has also crept above 8 in recent outings.

Despite the numbers, Rashid remains composed and philosophical. Sometimes you have a bad month or even a year, he said, reflecting on his recent struggles. For me, its just about how you are feeling. Its not just about what you see in the media. I see myself in a very good frame of mind.

Leading Gujarat Titans with Pride

The 25-year-old is currently captain of Gujarat Titans (GT), stepping in temporarily in the absence of regular skipper Shubman Gill, who is recovering from injury but expected back soon. Rashid expressed his pride in leading the franchise. It's a huge honour to captain a team in the IPL, one of the biggest leagues in the world. Ten years back, I wouldnt even have thought about playing in the IPL. And now, leading a team in the IPL is a huge honour.

Thrilled by the experience of captaining in front of 80,000 fans, Rashid emphasized the learning that comes from being part of leadership discussions and decision-making. It gives me the opportunity to learn, he said. And yeah, I really enjoyed it  it was something very special for me.

GT's Slow Start and Looking Ahead

Gujarat Titans began the season with two consecutive losses—tight matches that slipped away in the death overs. Rashid remains optimistic, noting that the team controlled over 35 overs in both games but faltered at the finish. We just didnt finish them well, he admitted. But weve learned from that. We will move forward and come back strong in the next game.

Despite the rough start, Rashid expressed confidence in the squads preparation and mindset. Weve worked really hard, trained really hard. Everyone is in a very good frame of mind, he said, adding, Regardless of what the result is, its something that is out of our control. But the effort we put on the ground is in our control.

Batters Dominating? Not Necessarily, Says Rashid

With several high-scoring games becoming the norm, many have speculated that batters now dominate bowlers, especially spinners. Rashid disagrees with the notion that conditions alone decide outcomes. If you bowl badly, the runs are going to flow. But if you bowl well, I dont see those runs coming, he stated.

On the growing trend of batters treating leg-spinners like off-spinners to neutralize googlies, Rashid remained unfazed. An off-spinner is still a bowler, he quipped. My job is just to hit the right areas consistently. If it spins, Im going to spin it. If it doesnt, the ball is going to come straight to you.

Defending Mystery Spinners

Addressing concerns about mystery spinners like Varun Chakaravarthy and Noor Ahmed losing effectiveness, Rashid urged perspective. Its cricket  it happens to anybody, anytime, he said. Last season, Noor had a great start. That doesnt mean he was a good bowler then and is now a bad bowler.

He pointed to Rajasthan Royals Ravi Bishnoi, who took four wickets in GTs last game, as proof that spinners can still dominate when they execute plans. If you bowl in the right areas, you will definitely get the right result  not today, maybe tomorrow.

As Rashid continues to lead GT with resilience and grace, his words serve as a reminder that form is fleeting—but character and consistency endure.