Rashid Khan lost the T20I captaincy in March. Afghanistan lost 3-0 to India this week. He watched Abhishek Sharma hit the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter while his bowlers had no answers in Delhi.
He calls 2026 “sabse zabardast.” Very fantastic. His best year.
“It’s been sabse zabardast (very fantastic). I want every year to be like this one only, 2026.”
Rashid Khan, exclusive interview facilitated by Red Bull, September 16, 2026
That statement makes no sense until you understand what the 18 months before it looked like.
Rashid had back surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The timeline to return was always aggressive for a wrist spinner who bowls with the kind of rotational force he generates. He came back in two and a half months.
“My rehab did not go as well as it should have. I only had about two to two-and-a-half months to get back on the field.”
Rashid Khan, May 2026
He returned for international cricket in March 2024. Then came the decision that set him back again. Afghanistan had a Test match, and Rashid bowled 67 overs in it.
“The second big mistake I made was playing a Test match, where I bowled around 67 overs, after which I felt the injury again.”
Rashid Khan, May 2026
He played through 2024 carrying that. Led Afghanistan to their first T20 World Cup semi-final in the Caribbean, beating Australia along the way. Then the T20 World Cup 2026 arrived, and Afghanistan failed to get out of the group stage, losing to New Zealand and South Africa. The captaincy was taken from him weeks later.
After IPL 2025, Rashid finally did what he should have done two years earlier. He gave his body real time. He visited the Red Bull High Performance Centre for full-body diagnostics. He let the rehab run its full course instead of cutting it short.
“It was a back injury and, given the energy I bowl with in my action and run-up, I needed to work consistently on my fitness after that injury, which, to be honest, I did not do.”
Rashid Khan, May 2026
By IPL 2026, the difference was visible. Fifteen wickets in 11 matches for Gujarat Titans, including a four-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals. His career IPL tally crossed 173 wickets. His back, for the first time since surgery, was not a factor.
When asked about the captaincy, Rashid did not give a diplomatic answer. He gave an honest one.
“Le li (it was taken). I mean, I don’t understand.”
Rashid Khan, September 16, 2026
Two words in Hindustani. “Le li.” It was taken. ACB Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil framed it as a “thoughtful decision to transition the leadership.” Rashid’s record as captain: 48 T20Is, 26 wins, a semi-final. The man who replaced him, Ibrahim Zadran, is an opening batter.
Rashid did not dwell on it. He said he hopes Zadran leads the team successfully. He added, “Whatever happens, it will be for the good.” But “Le li” and “I don’t understand” sit in the same sentence, and that sentence says more than any press release.
What 2026 gave Rashid was not cricket. His son Azlan was born during the IPL in April. Rashid announced it on Instagram: “Welcome to the world, my little prince.”
“He is my happiness. He is my lucky charm. It’s a different feeling.”
Rashid Khan, September 16, 2026
Fatherhood landed in the middle of a franchise season, on a body that was finally healthy, in a year where the captaincy had already been stripped. That is the context behind his other statement from the same interview.
“I want Afghanistan to win one World Cup by the time I am there in the team. Before I retire, I have this in the book that yes, we won the championship or a World Cup, whether it is T20 or ODI.”
Rashid Khan, September 16, 2026
Afghanistan proved in 2024 that a World Cup semi-final is not a ceiling. They beat Australia. They beat Bangladesh under pressure. They have Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and a batting lineup that is learning to handle pace on hard wickets. Rashid does not need to carry them alone anymore. He needs them to be consistent.
“Everything started from here. In the 2023 World Cup, we defeated England, then we defeated Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Now, it’s a tough challenge for us to maintain consistency…we don’t just do it once, and that’s it.”
Rashid Khan, September 16, 2026
The 3-0 loss to India this week does not change what 2026 has been for Rashid Khan. A year where he stopped pretending his body was fine and let it heal. A year where his son arrived. A year where the captaincy was taken and he responded with two words, then kept playing. He is 27. The World Cup dream is not nostalgia. It is a deadline.
Insider Read
Two and a half months of rehab after spinal surgery is a timeline built around fixtures, not biology. A wrist spinner’s short run-up forces the lumbar region to absorb energy a longer approach would spread out. Every delivery loads the lower spine through counter-rotation and torque. Rashid’s 2026 fitness, not any single performance, is the most significant development in his career since the surgery.
Rashid Khan : The Man Behind The Magic.
Our best Podcast Episode Ever.
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— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 17, 2026
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