Noor Ahmad Outshines Rashid Khan in IPL 2025?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has brought some exciting surprises, and one of the biggest stories is the rise of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) young spinner, Noor Ahmad. Last year, during the IPL auction, CSK made a bold move by spending Rs 10 crore on the 20-year-old Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner. At the time, many questioned the decision, including Gujarat Titans’ coach Ashish Nehra, who let Noor go without using the ‘Right To Match’ card. Nehra’s confidence came from having Rashid Khan, one of the IPL’s greatest spinners, in his team. However, halfway through the 2025 season, it seems CSK’s gamble has paid off, while Nehra’s choice might not have been the best.
Noor Ahmad has been a standout performer for CSK. In six matches, he has claimed 12 wickets, earning the Purple Cap as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. His economy rate of 7.12 and an average of 14.25 are far better than his competitors. On the other hand, Rashid Khan, who has played 127 IPL matches and taken 153 wickets with an economy rate of 6.95, is struggling this season. In six games, Rashid has only four wickets, with an economy rate of 9.77 and an average of 53.75. Injuries have troubled Rashid in recent years, and batters seem to be reading him better, treating his googly-heavy bowling like medium pace.
NOOR AHMAD DIDN’T GIVE A SINGLE BOUNDARY IN 4 OVERS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UcGlvhxS1t
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 23, 2025
In contrast, Noor is in top form. For example, in a recent match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), CSK won a close game, thanks to Noor’s brilliant bowling. He bowled four overs, giving away just 13 runs and taking no wickets, but his tight spell stopped LSG’s batters, including the talented Rishabh Pant, from scoring freely. LSG, who seemed set to post a score above 180, ended with 166/7. Even CSK captain MS Dhoni, who scored an unbeaten 26 off 11 balls and won the Man of the Match award, felt Noor deserved the recognition. “Why are they giving it to me? Noor bowled so well,” Dhoni said.
Noor’s impact reminds fans of Rashid Khan’s best days. Earlier in the season, Noor dismissed Suryakumar Yadav with a clever delivery that stumped the batter, setting up CSK’s victory with a spell of 4/15. His performance in Lucknow was equally impressive, helping CSK end a five-match losing streak. CSK’s bowling coach, Eric Simons, praised Noor’s accuracy and confidence. “It’s not just about the wickets you take but the wickets you help the team get. Noor is bowling more accurately and slower, which shows his confidence. I can’t read his bowling, and that’s a great strength,” Simons said.
Interestingly, Noor has learned a lot from Rashid, having played alongside him for Afghanistan and Gujarat Titans. However, while Rashid’s accuracy has slightly dipped, Noor’s unpredictability makes him hard to face. Batters struggle to pick his variations, giving CSK a powerful weapon. If CSK hopes to finish in the top four, Noor’s bowling will be key.
