Afghanistan‘s star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, acknowledged that he made an error by returning to cricket too soon after undergoing back surgery, which took place shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Following a challenging IPL 2025 campaign, where he conceded 33 sixes while playing for the Gujarat Titans (GT), Rashid decided to take a two-month break. He returned to the field with a match-winning performance of 3-11, helping the defending champions, Oval Invincibles, secure a victory over London Spirit in their opening game of The Hundred at Lord’s.

“After the IPL, I needed a proper break to let my body recover. I focused on building my strength, especially after my back surgery. I didn’t get enough time for rehab, and rushing back soon was a mistake,” he said.

“I don’t think I allowed myself to recover properly before, and I pushed myself a bit too hard at that time. Now, I can see the consequences of that. But after the IPL in 2025, I realized I really needed a couple of months off to just focus on getting my fitness back,” Rashid added.

Rashid captained Afghanistan to the semi-finals of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup but was forced to miss both the BBL and PSL because of back and hamstring issues. He made his comeback in January 2025 during the second Test against Zimbabwe, where he claimed 11 wickets from 55 overs and was named Player of the Match. Despite this, the physical strain of his efforts showed in his less-than-impressive performances in the Champions Trophy and IPL 2025.

“After my surgery, I was advised not to rush back into longer formats like Tests and ODIs, as it wouldn’t benefit my recovery. About eight to nine months after returning, I bowled 65 overs in the Bulawayo Test, and that really strained my back. I felt it at the time and realized I shouldn’t have been playing in whites (Tests).”

“In T20s, it’s manageable as you can pace yourself but for longer formats, I was advised to stay away for a while. That was the mistake I made. However, the team needed me at that time. We had lost a few Test matches, and I rushed back too soon. I didn’t give myself enough time to recover, and I felt the impact of that later.”

“After the IPL ended, I didn’t touch the ball for three weeks. I spent most of that time with my family and nephews, just hanging out and having fun. It was a chance to clear my mind, forget about the tough days, and create some new memories. Then, I was able to restart, feel refreshed, and get back on track with my cricket, focusing on bowling in the right areas,” he concluded.