Rashid returned with the figures of 4/33 in four overs against RR.
After being sent in to bat, GT racked up a massive 229/4 on the board, thanks to skipper Shubman Gill’s 84 off 44 balls. His opening partner Sai Sudharsan (55 off 36) also slammed a half-century, while Washington Sundar scored 20-ball 37.
In reply, the Royals innings folded for 152 in 16.3 overs as Rashid Khan wreaked havoc with the ball, returning with figures of 4/33 in four overs.
After receiving the Player-of-the-Match award, Rashid expressed satisfaction with his performance following a challenging period.
“Quite happy (How happy are you compared to how things have gone compared to the last 2 seasons). Thanks to the Almighty! I think it was something very unusual for me last two seasons. Took nine wickets in the last season, but I feel like this year it’s more about just making sure you enjoy yourself and make sure your ball is hitting the right area consistently and I feel like last year I missed out on all that and this year it’s more consistent to bring in the line and length and so far so happy with that,” Rashid said at the post-match presentation.
The leg-spinner admitted rushing his return to the field after back surgery to play for Afghanistan was a "huge mistake" but post IPL 2025, he took time off and worked on his fitness, particularly back.
“When I had the surgery, I took only two months to get back on field and that was something where I did hurry and that and I feel that time I made a huge mistake to be in the center that soon, but I had to come back for Afghanistan and play those games and I think last year when IPL was over, I had two, three months totally off and I tried my best to work on my fitness and most importantly, my back to be back and I think the rhythm I go through the crease, I think that was something I was missing and after that, I had a good time in the center and I had a good hundred ball competition and then just kept on,” he added.
Reflecting on his match-defining spell against RR, Rashid said there was help from the pitch and his strategy was to mix up the pace while maintaining a strict line on the stumps to restrict scoring options.
“The moment I bowled the first ball, I knew there is something for me and but it’s just about making sure you bowl and mix it up in the pace. Pace was something I was trying to mix it up and hit the right area consistently and don’t leave the stump. I feel like if I leave the stump, it becomes easier for the batter to take a single or hit for a boundary. But the most important part was for me that, yes, I wanna hit the length, but more important, is the line and it should be on those three stumps,” he stated.
Regarding the dismissal of Donovan Ferreira, Rashid said he visualised the exact delivery beforehand and knew it was a wicket-taking ball as soon as it left his hand.
“Yeah, I had that in my mind (talking about Ferreira dismissal). I made that movie in my mind before that. I felt like if I pitch in the right area, there is some help and I can get that wicket. So as soon as it went from my hand, I knew it’s gonna come,” he remarked.
Rashid Khan also opened up on his strong bond with fellow GT spinners, specifically praising Sai Kishore for his hard work and development of new variations
“It’s so good. We have that good connection (talking about working with fellow spinners). We have been together for a long time and it’s so important to have those players around you. You have some good days, bad days, but more importantly, you’re sharing that experience. They played a lot here in India. When I come here, I have that kind of a good conversation to bowl in different cities, in different grounds, how it’s going to be, and share my international experience with them as well.
“So I feel, something which I really loved about them is that they keep adding so many things in their bowling. You know, the modern cricket, the demand is to have more variation. And Sai Kishore especially, I feel like he’s someone who is working very hard on different skills. And he’s working on the wrong' un, which is I’m so excited to see him in future to bowl that in the games,” he concluded.