Rashid Khan Surpasses Bumrah to Become Third-Fastest IPL Bowler to 150 Wickets
Rashid Khan Achieves Milestone in IPL
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March 26, Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan has set a new record by surpassing India's leading fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to become the third-fastest player to reach 150 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rashid accomplished this remarkable feat during the season opener for the Gujarat Titans against the Punjab Kings. Although he only claimed one wicket in the Titans' narrow 11-run loss, it was sufficient to elevate him past Bumrah's previous record.
With 150 wickets in just 122 matches, Rashid's impressive tally is only outdone by Yuzvendra Chahal (118) and Lasith Malinga (105). He reached the 150-wicket milestone in two matches fewer than Bumrah, who achieved it in 124 matches.
Rashid's bowling prowess is evident beyond just his wicket count. He boasts an impressive average, with only Malinga (19.79) having a better average than Rashid's 22.00. Additionally, Sunil Narine (6.73) is the only bowler with a superior economy rate compared to Rashid's 6.83 among the top wicket-takers.
The 26-year-old spinner has excelled in the lucrative league by skillfully utilizing his legbreak googly. However, during the match against the Punjab Kings, he faced challenges on a batting-friendly pitch in Ahmedabad.
In contrast to his usual economical bowling, Rashid struggled, conceding 48 runs in his four-over spell at an economy rate of 12.00, while managing to take the wicket of debutant Priyansh Arya.
During the first innings, the Kings were off to a strong start, scoring at over 12 runs per over after the powerplay. In need of a breakthrough, Titans' captain Shubman Gill turned to Rashid.
With a well-placed delivery that lacked bounce and turn, Rashid tempted Priyansh into an aggressive shot. Priyansh ended up top-edging the ball, which was easily caught by Sai Sudharsan, sending him back to the pavilion after a quick 47 runs off 23 balls.
This wicket was the only highlight for Rashid, as he faced a tough outing for the remainder of the match, with PBKS finishing at 243/5. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer shone with an unbeaten 97, while Shashank Singh contributed a quick 44.
In response, the Gujarat Titans showed some fight at home, but ultimately fell short by 11 runs.