Rashid Khan said he struggles to play Test cricket. (Courtesy: ACB Media)

Rashid Khan may step away from Test cricket, doubtful for India clash in June

Advised by doctors to avoid red-ball cricket after back surgery, Rashid Khan is set to prioritise white-ball formats. The Gujarat Titans spinner all but confirmed his withdrawal from the June Test against India in New Chandigarh.

09 Apr 2026, 02:23 by Akshay Ramesh · India Today

In Short

Rashid Khan has played six Tests in the last seven years
The leg-spinner said he will prioritise white-ball cricket in future
Rashid bowled Gujarat Titans to win in Delhi on Wednesday

Afghanistan’s premier spin bowler, Rashid Khan, is pessimistic about playing many Test matches for his country in the coming years, citing workload concerns following back surgery.

The Gujarat Titans star, speaking to the press after his match-winning spell in an IPL 2026 fixture against the Delhi Capitals in Delhi on Wednesday, revealed that his doctor has strongly advised him against playing red-ball cricket.

Afghanistan are scheduled to play a Test against India national cricket team in June in New Chandigarh, but Rashid admitted he is unlikely to feature. Notably, he was part of Afghanistan’s historic first-ever Test match, which came against India in 2018.

“Red-ball cricket is a little difficult because that was the first thing my doctor told me — ‘stay away from red-ball cricket’,” Rashid said.

IPL 2026, DC vs GT: Highlights | Scorecard

“I still went ahead and played. After the surgery, I played a game against Zimbabwe and bowled 67 overs, which was crazy. The doctor told me, ‘if you don’t want to play cricket, you can keep playing red-ball cricket’. He said it’s not going to help me and that I won’t be able to play for long.

“I still went ahead and played, but when he found out I had bowled 67 overs across two innings, he was shocked. He said, ‘you can’t do that to yourself’,” he added.

Since gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played 12 Tests and Rashid has played in only six of them.

TARGET: 2027 ODI WORLD CUP

Rashid also said he intends to prioritise white-ball cricket, particularly One Day Internationals, as he sets his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup.

India are also set to host Afghanistan for a three-match ODI series in June, and Rashid is expected to be part of that squad.

“So yes, I will think about it. But ODI cricket — I really enjoy that format. I am in good shape to play ODIs for a longer period for Afghanistan. However, I want to be careful about how much I play and not put too much load on myself if I want to have a longer career.

“Red-ball cricket is something that looks a bit difficult for me. If it’s one Test a year, I will take that, but I don’t think I can manage more than that. I will try, but if I bowl a spell of 20–25 overs, I have to bowl the whole day if I’m in the team.

“In my last two Test matches, I bowled 126 overs, which is simply too much. I will take it easy and prepare myself for the World Cup. Imagine if something happens to my back during a Test match — I can’t play 100 Tests. There is no specific target for me in Test cricket,” he said.

Rashid’s battle with a chronic lower-back injury reached a critical point in November 2023, when he underwent surgery in the United Kingdom after pushing through the ODI World Cup at what he estimated to be just 40 per cent fitness.

Although his return to competitive cricket in early 2024 initially appeared successful, the demands of consecutive franchise leagues and domestic T20 competitions soon exposed the fragility of his recovery. This resulted in significant stiffness and ultimately led to his withdrawal from Test cricket in order to preserve his long-term fitness.

That cautious approach was briefly set aside in January 2025, when Rashid featured in a Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, producing a remarkable 11-wicket haul. However, he struggled through the remainder of the season, with the back issue resurfacing at various points and hampering his performance in IPL 2025 — a campaign he would rather forget.

Following a necessary two-month break after the 2025 IPL season — focused on intensive conditioning and technical recalibration — Rashid has now returned to cricket in peak physical condition.

On Wednesday, he delivered figures of 3 for 17 to help the Gujarat Titans defend a target of 210 by a single run, ending their two-match losing streak and opening their account in IPL 2026.

- Ends