Rashid Khan endured one of the most punishing evenings of his T20 career as Rajasthan Royals dismantled Gujarat Titans’ spinner in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 on Friday. The Afghanistan star ended with figures of 2 overs for 45 runs and, in the process, recorded the poorest economy rate of his entire T20 career in games where he bowled at least two overs. Coming into this contest, Rashid had never been charged at 22.5 runs per over across 524 prior T20 innings, underlining how out of character the outing proved to be.
Key takeaways
- Rashid Khan’s spell in Qualifier 2 finished with 2 overs for 45 runs.
- His economy rate in this match was the worst of his T20 career when he bowled a minimum of two overs.
- Donovan Ferreira struck four sixes in the final over of Rajasthan’s innings, as the team scored 27 runs off those last six balls.
- The final over also matched the IPL playoffs record for the most expensive over by a spinner.
- Rajasthan posted 214 for 6 after a late surge changed the match’s momentum.
Rashid’s toughest economy and the record over
Rashid’s nightmare was made even sharper in the last over of Rajasthan’s innings, when Ferreira turned his attack into a statement. The South African batter launched four maximums during that over, forcing a major shift in the scoreboard and leaving Gujarat’s bowling group under pressure right at the finish.
The 27-run over became more than just a turning point—it also equalled the playoff record for the costliest over bowled by a spinner in IPL post-season history. That same mark had previously been set by Ravi Bishnoi, whose over conceded 27 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2022 Eliminator at Kolkata.
For a bowler of Rashid’s pedigree, this outing carried an additional layer of context. His previous worst economy in an innings of at least two overs had come during IPL 2025 in Ahmedabad against Lucknow Super Giants, when he conceded 36 runs in two overs at an economy of 18. By those standards alone, the Gujarat game represented a steep fall from his usual control.
Rajasthan’s batting brilliance and the Vaibhav Sooryavanshi spark
Rashid’s struggles unfolded during a sensational batting display from Rajasthan Royals, once again powered by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old delivered a remarkable 96 off just 47 balls in front of a packed crowd that had largely gathered to witness his latest standout performance.
Rajasthan’s chase began with early alarms. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel were both dismissed within the first two overs, with Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada doing the early damage for Gujarat. With the pitch already showing signs of use—having previously hosted the Eliminator—Gujarat’s pacers leaned into tactics that included short-pitched bowling and hard lengths targeting the body, particularly aimed at disrupting Sooryavanshi.
Despite that pressure, the youngster continued to dominate some of the game’s most accomplished bowlers. One of the most eye-catching moments came when he struck Rabada’s 153 kmph delivery straight back over the bowler’s head for six, showcasing both timing and confidence even in the midst of a hostile spell.
Ravindra Jadeja, promoted to No. 4, added important support with an unbeaten 45 off 35 balls. His innings, however, was not without its own challenge, as he battled a tennis elbow injury. At one stage he briefly retired hurt, but returned later in Rajasthan’s innings to provide stability and to assist in the final-over push alongside Ferreira.
Final-over fireworks and the 214 for 6 finish
For much of the innings, Gujarat Titans looked like they had a lid on the chase, seemingly on track to keep Rajasthan below 200. That plan collapsed as the match entered its closing phase, with Ferreira’s assault on Rashid turning a strong total into something far more imposing.
By the time the dust settled, Rajasthan Royals finished on 214 for 6, a score that owed its momentum swing to those late blows and especially to the four-sixer surge in the final over. For Rashid Khan, it was a rare night where one of T20 cricket’s most respected bowlers found himself on the wrong side of IPL playoff history.
