The Gujarat Titans vs. Rajasthan Royals clash in IPL 2026 wasn't just about runs and wickets—it turned into a playful showdown of celebrations that had fans smiling long after the final ball. Rashid Khan stole the spotlight with both his bowling and a cheeky post-match gesture after GT's dominant 77-run victory over RR on Saturday.
The fun started earlier in the match when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Jos Buttler. The veteran all-rounder tempted Buttler with a wide delivery outside off, and the English batter couldn't resist going for the big shot. He mistimed it completely, and Donovan Ferreira made no mistake at long-off. As Buttler trudged back to the pavilion, Jadeja casually slipped his hand into his pocket—a signature "player in pocket" celebration that quickly became the talk of the first innings.
But Rashid Khan wasn't about to let that go unanswered. After GT wrapped up a comfortable win, the franchise shared a video of Rashid emptying his own pockets in a playful response. The punchline? He pulled out a small piece of paper that read "+2"—a clever comeback that had fans and teammates laughing.
Rashid's performance was even more impressive given his recent fitness struggles. Named Player of the Match, he opened up about getting back to his best after a tough couple of seasons. "It was something unusual for me in the last two seasons. This season, it's more about enjoying myself and hitting the right areas consistently," he said after the win.
The Afghanistan spinner admitted that rushing back from surgery had cost him. "When I had that surgery, I took only two months to get back. That was a huge mistake. Last year, after the IPL ended, I took 2-3 months off and really worked on my fitness."
On the pitch, Rashid knew early on that conditions were in his favor. "The moment I bowled the first ball, I knew there was something for me. I was just trying to mix up my pace," he explained. That awareness, combined with his return to form, made GT's victory all the more convincing—and gave cricket fans a celebration they won't forget anytime soon.