IPL 2025: Mujeeb Ur Rahman Takes Over for Injured Allah Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians

Synopsis

Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been announced as the replacement for Allah Ghazanfar in the Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2025 due to Ghazanfar's injury. This decision comes ahead of the highly anticipated tournament, with Mujeeb bringing significant T20 experience to the team.

Key Takeaways

Mujeeb Ur Rahman replaces Allah Ghazanfar in MI squad.
Ghazanfar is out due to a serious injury.
Mujeeb has a strong record in T20 cricket.
MI acquired Ghazanfar for Rs 4.80 crore.
Ghazanfar also misses the Champions Trophy.

Mumbai, Feb 16 (NationPress) Afghanistan spinner Mujiib Ur Rahman has stepped in for his compatriot Allah Ghazanfar in the Mumbai Indians lineup for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The young spinner Ghazanfar has been sidelined for the tournament due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis, which he sustained during Afghanistan's tour to Zimbabwe last December.

The Mumbai-based franchise originally acquired Ghazanfar for Rs 4.80 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction held last November. An official IPL statement confirmed, "Mumbai Indians (MI) have selected Mujeeb-ur-Rahman to replace Allah Ghazanfar for the forthcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Allah Ghazanfar is out for the season due to injury."

Mujeeb, a right-arm off-spinner, has participated in 19 IPL matches and taken 19 wickets. He joins MI at a base price of Rs 2 crore after last playing in IPL 2021 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Previously, he spent three seasons with the Punjab Kings (PBKS). At just 23 years old, he boasts an impressive record of 275 wickets in 256 T20 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 6.75.

Curiously, 18-year-old Ghazanfar had been brought in to fill Mujeeb Ur Rahman's spot in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, which clinched the 2024 Indian Premier League title, although he did not play a single match for them.

This injury has also excluded the young off-spinner from participating in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He has been substituted by Nangyal Kharoti in Afghanistan’s 15-member squad for that tournament.

Mumbai Indians squad includes: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Raj Angad Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.