Afghanistan’s ace offspinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, has returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2025 season after a four-year gap. He takes the place of his compatriot, AM Ghazanfar, in the Mumbai Indians (MI) team after Ghazanfar suffered the misfortune of a back injury.
Ghazanfar, who had been included in the MI team initially for IPL 2025, has now been excluded from the upcoming Champions Trophy as well as the IPL because of a major injury.
Ghazanfar’s Injury and Unavailability for the IPL
Ghazanfar, who had earned his first IPL contract having impressed everyone with his performances during One Day Internationals (ODIs), got a major back injury when he was in Zimbabwe on tour with Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had earlier this week confirmed that Ghazanfar had suffered a “fracture of the L4 vertebra” during the tour, which would keep him away from cricket for a minimum of four months. This injury has kept him out of both the highly coveted Champions Trophy, which starts this Wednesday and the IPL, creating a void in the MI team.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman: A Seasoned IPL Veteran
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back in the IPL after four years since his last outing in the league in 2021. He played a solitary game for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021. Mujeeb first started his IPL journey with Punjab Kings in 2018 as a 17-year-old. Throughout his three seasons playing for Punjab, Mujeeb featured in 18 matches, impressing through his stingy bowling and tight variations. Through his IPL performances, he has gained fame and has been the backbone of Afghanistan’s T20 team.
Through 275 wickets in the T20 format at a respectable average of 23.67 and an economical rate of 6.75, Mujeeb has gained a reputation as one of T20 cricket’s most consistent spinners. His wicket-taking and run-controlling ability has made him a prized possession in T20 leagues across the globe. The latest example is Mujeeb, who played for Paarl Royals in the SA20. There, he was the team’s leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 12 games. Though his performance was outstanding, Paarl Royals lost to Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2.
Injury Setback and Recovery: Mujeeb’s Journey Back to Full Fitness
Mujeeb’s road back from injury has not been an easy one. Last November, he was forced to step away from cricket due to a right phalanx (hand) sprain that kept him out of action for five months. But Mujeeb returned from his injury successfully, first by returning to competitive action in the Abu Dhabi T10 and later by returning for Afghanistan’s T20I series against Zimbabwe.
His return to form in these formats set the stage for his participation in the SA20, where he continued to perform consistently with the ball.
Though Mujeeb was not selected by Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, he had been instructed by his doctors to concentrate on T20 cricket for a full recovery before returning to the ODI team. This was a part of his gradual rehabilitation program, so he did not overdo anything and faced any other injury.
Mujeeb Joins Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025
Even though he remained unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, Mujeeb’s chance at playing in the tournament materialized when he was named to replace Ghazanfar in the MI team. He is joining the Mumbai Indians for a fee of INR 2 crore (about US $230,764). This invitation presents Mujeeb with the opportunity to once again demonstrate his abilities on one of the largest platforms in world cricket, as MI seeks to add to its roster a skilled spinner.
Mujeeb’s IPL Comeback Adds Depth to MI’s Bowling Attack
Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s inclusion in the Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2025 marks a significant comeback for the Afghanistan spinner, who has been out of the IPL for several years. With Ghazanfar’s injury creating an opening in MI’s lineup, Mujeeb is set to bring his vast T20 experience and wicket-taking ability to the team.
His comeback will fortify the bowling lineup of MI as they target success during the next season of the IPL. For Mujeeb, it is one more chance to demonstrate his caliber on the international stage following a tough rehabilitation process.
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