IPL 2025: Mystery spinner Ghazanfar’s mysterious journey from MI net bowler to Rs 4.8 crore signing

Afghanistan’s mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar was recently bought for a whopping Rs. 4.8 crore by Mumbai Indians (MI) at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The mystery spinner’s journey so far has also nothing but mystery. Ghazanfar’s talent was first spotted by the then MI head coach Mark Boucher ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Subsequently, MI even sent a car for Ghazanfar to travel to Abu Dhabi from Dubai. However, the Afghanistan teenager was denied visa as the authorities felt that a net bowler cannot be given an Indian visa as a player.

The right arm off-break bowler later was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for compatriot Mujeeb Ur Rahman in March. However, he didn’t get a game.

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Fate had certainly other plans for the mystery spinner. Ghazanfar was very much interested to be a net bowler for MI. However, the franchise eventually signed him with a whooping amount of Rs 4.8 crore.

Ghazanfar has so far played eight ODIs for Afghanistan. However, he is all set to play for MI in the 2025 edition of IPL.

Ghazanfar’s father was not initially keen to make his son as a cricketer and wanted him to excel in academics. However, things changed later and they supported his cricketing journey. Now they are on cloud nine after Ghazanfar was bought with a whooping amount of money by Mumbai Indians in the IPL auction.

“Everyone is over the moon, including our father. Credit goes to Allah as he is a hard worker,” said Atta Mohammad Ghazanfar,” Allah’s elder brother.