2 weeks Ago
Star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan believes the pressure to perform in the IPL surpasses even that of the ICC World Cup Championship and feels Shubman Gill, as captain of the Gujarat Titans, has a valuable opportunity to make bold decisions and establish himself as a great leader. Rashid, who plays under Gill at Gujarat Titans, spoke highly of his skipper, saying he possesses all the qualities needed to become an outstanding captain. "Shubman has a very bright future as a leader, not just as a batter but in the way he thinks and understands the game," Rashid said on JioHotstar's special series 'Gen Gold'.
A top order of the highest order ???? pic.twitter.com/90lmZr7dBT — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 21, 2025 "He comes with a plan.
He's very calm, and when you see him on the ground-the way he manages the team, the bowlers, and the overall environment, he has all the qualities to be a great leader. "He's captaining in such a big league, and the pressure here is even more than the World Cup. This is the best opportunity for him as a captain to perform under pressure and take bold decisions," said the 26-year-old wily leg-spinner.
Talking about his own brief stint with Titans as skipper when Hardik Pandya was indisposed, Rashid said the opportunity during the 2022 season helped him grow as a leader which helped him do national duty even better. Smile like our Skipper if you're also Matchday ready!???? pic.twitter.
com/nAKvaYbMeD — Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 21, 2025 "It was a dream come true. That experience helped me grow, not just in the league but also when I returned to lead Afghanistan. I started thinking differently," he said.
"Compared to 4–5 years ago, I had a shift in mindset. That leadership stint helped me and played a part in Afghanistan reaching the semi-finals in 2024 (of the T20 World Cup). The IPL exposes you to different conditions and situations that test and shape you into a better leader and player.
" Rashid said it has become extremely challenging for the bowlers in the slam-bang format where the batters now adopt a high-risk approach. "As a bowler, you have to work twice as hard now. You need to be smarter and ready for any situation.
Sometimes, you might start your over with a six, but you have to figure out how to end it under 10 runs. "It's in the bowler's hands to control the situation. A lot of extra hard work is needed in the nets.
Earlier, bowlers weren’t mentally prepared for such aggressive batting. But now, many are coming with new plans and strategies," he said..
