Key Highlights:
- Mumbai Indians’ Bid: Mumbai Indians (MI) secured 18-year-old Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar for ₹4.80 crore in the IPL 2025 auction.
- Bidding Battle: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fiercely contested for Ghazanfar, but MI emerged victorious.
- IPL Debut: Previously with KKR, Ghazanfar did not play any matches last season. He now joins MI under Hardik Pandya’s leadership.
Career Highlights
- T20 Experience: In 16 T20 matches, Ghazanfar has taken 29 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls.
- ODI Debut: He has played 8 ODIs, bagging 12 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.36.
- Memorable Performances:
- In a recent ODI against Bangladesh, Ghazanfar claimed 6/26, earning the Player of the Match award.
- Played a key role in Afghanistan’s win at the Men’s Emerging Asia Cup, taking crucial wickets against India.
Franchise History
- T10 and LPL: Ghazanfar represented Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League and Colombo Strikers in the Lanka Premier League.
- Specialist Role in MI: With only one other specialist spinner, Karn Sharma, in the MI squad, Ghazanfar’s inclusion bolsters their spin attack.
What’s Next?
Ghazanfar is poised to make a significant impact in IPL 2025, showcasing his skills on one of cricket’s biggest stages. Can he prove to be MI’s ace spinner and justify his ₹4.80 crore price tag?
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