CHENNAI: In a statistical anomaly that has stunned cricket fans, Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan bowled only a single over during Gujarat Titans’ (GT) clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, April 26, 2026. This marks the first time in his 3,308-day IPL career—spanning back to his debut in 2017—that he has not completed at least two overs in a full game.
Introduced late in the 15th over at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Rashid was taken to the cleaners by the CSK batting duo of Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad, conceding 21 runs in his solitary six-ball spell.
The Breakdown of the 21-Run Over
The “Chepauk Heat” proved too much for the world’s leading T20 wicket-taker as CSK’s middle order exploited the conditions:
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Balls 1-2: Tidy start, but the pressure mounted.
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Ball 3: Shivam Dube dispatched a length ball for four.
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Ball 4: Dube followed up with a towering six, a signature strike against leg-spin.
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Ball 6: Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad finished the over with a boundary, pushing the total to 21.
Following this expensive over, GT captain Shubman Gill opted not to bring Rashid back, relying instead on his pace battery and uncapped spinner Manav Suthar.
Rashid Khan’s Shortest Spells in IPL History
| Team | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Opponent | Date |
| Gujarat Titans | 1.0 | 21 | 0 | CSK | April 26, 2026 |
| Gujarat Titans | 1.4 | 25 | 0 | RCB | May 4, 2024 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2.0 | 11 | 0 | KKR | May 17, 2017 |
| Gujarat Titans | 2.0 | 12 | 1 | DC | April 17, 2024 |
GT Bowling Analysis
While Rashid struggled, other GT bowlers managed to find some rhythm on the Chennai surface:
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Kagiso Rabada: The standout performer with 3/25 in his 4 overs.
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Manav Suthar: The young spinner showed more control than his senior partner, returning figures of 1/22 in 3 overs.
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Arshad Khan: Chipped in with 2 wickets, though the pace unit overall faced a tough challenge from a dominant CSK lineup.
The “Dube Factor”
Shivam Dube’s continued dominance over spin has become a major tactical hurdle for captains. By neutralizing Rashid Khan so effectively that he was taken out of the attack, Dube has solidified his reputation as India’s premier spin-basher ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
