Rashid Khan
The Afghan leg-spinner who topped ICC rankings and became the youngest Test captain at 20.
via Wikipedia: Rashid Khan · see source
Rashid Khan is an Afghan international cricketer who bowls right-arm leg spin and plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2017 IPL for ₹4 crore and later joined Gujarat Titans. He became the youngest player to top the ICC Player Rankings for bowlers in ODIs in February 2018, and later that month also topped the T20I bowler rankings. In September 2018, he became the number one ICC all-rounder after the 2018 Asia Cup. He holds the record for the most wickets in Men's Twenty20 International cricket, surpassing Tim Southee's 164 in September 2025.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Full name
- Rashid Khan Arman
- Born
- 20 September 1998
- Birthplace
- Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan
- Batting
- Right-handed
- Bowling
- Leg break googly
- Role
- Bowling All-rounder
Lore & Background
Rashid Khan's journey from Nangarhar, Afghanistan to global cricket stardom is marked by record-breaking achievements. Born on 20 September 1998 in a Shinwari Pashtun family, his family fled the Afghan war and lived in Pakistan for a few years. He attended Islamia College Peshawar, studying computer science until 2013. He idolised Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, after whom he stylised his bowling action, and South African batsman AB de Villiers. Initially more proficient as a batsman, he later excelled in leg-spin bowling. He came to prominence in 2014 when he performed notably in matches played in Peshawar during the Afghan cricket team's tour of Pakistan. In June 2017, he took the best bowling figures for an associate nation in an ODI: 7 wickets for 18 runs against the West Indies. In March 2018, at age 19 years and 165 days, he became the youngest player to captain an international team during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. In the final of that qualifier, he became the fastest and youngest bowler to take 100 wickets in ODIs, taking 44 matches to break Mitchell Starc's record of 52. In June 2018, he became the fastest bowler, in terms of time, to take 50 wickets in T20Is, reaching the milestone in two years and 220 days. In October 2021, he became the fastest bowler, in terms of matches, to take 100 wickets in T20I cricket, in his 53rd match. In September 2019, at age 20 years and 350 days, he became the youngest cricketer to captain a Test match team, leading Afghanistan against Bangladesh. He was named ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Decade in December 2020.
Reader's Guide
Rashid Khan is a cornerstone of Gujarat Titans in the IPL, having joined the franchise for their inaugural season. He bowls right-arm leg spin and is an aggressive right-handed batsman. His record includes being the youngest to top the ICC ODI bowler rankings in February 2018, and later that month topping the T20I bowler rankings. He also holds the record as the youngest to take 200 wickets in T20 cricket, achieving this milestone at 23 years and 119 days old. In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, he played his 100th international match for Afghanistan on 1 June 2019 against Australia. He was named captain of Afghanistan's T20I team in April 2019, replacing Asghar Afghan, and later reappointed in July 2021 and December 2022. He led Afghanistan in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. His domestic and franchise career includes playing for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, Band-e-Amir Dragons in Afghanistan's Shpageeza Cricket League, and MI New York in MLC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rashid Khan?
Rashid Khan is an Afghan leg-spinner and global cricket icon who joined the Gujarat Titans for their very first season in 2022. He quickly became a defining figure of the franchise, helping them achieve immediate success on the international stage.
What role does he play for the team?
As a premier leg-spin bowler, Rashid is responsible for controlling the middle overs and taking wickets with his deceptive variations. His unique skill set makes him one of the most dangerous bowlers in the tournament against any batting lineup.
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