IPL 2025: Mujeeb Ur Rahman replaces injured Allah Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ squad

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been signed by Mumbai Indians (MI) as a replacement for his countrymate Allah Ghazanfar for the IPL 2025 season. Mumbai Indians had signed the rising 18-year-old off-spinner Ghazanfar for INR 4.80 crore in the IPL mega auction.

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The 18-year-old Ghazanfar had previously been ruled out of the Champions Trophy owing to an injury incurred on the Zimbabwe tour.

According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Ghazanfar suffered a "fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis...and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period." 

Mujeeb, who is not a member of Afghanistan's Champions Trophy side, recently competed in the SA20 2025 and played three T20Is against Zimbabwe. Mujeeb made his debut in the IPL 2018 season when he was bought by Punjab Kings during the auction.

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Afghanistan did not consider the 23-year-old for selection in other forms after his doctor advised him to focus on T20s and ensure a full recovery from a right phalanx sprain before returning to ODIs.

The freshly acquired Mujeeb returns to the IPL after missing the previous season due to injury. Interestingly, Ghazanfar replaced him on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lineup last season.

"Mumbai Indians picked Mujeeb-ur-Rahman as a replacement for Allah Ghazanfar for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Allah Ghazanfar is ruled out for the season due to an injury. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman—a right-arm off-spinner—has played 19 IPL matches and has 19 IPL wickets against his name. He joins MI for INR 2 crore," the IPL statement read.

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In terms of statistics, the 23-year-old has 275 wickets in 256 T20s, with an economy rate of 6.75. With renewed enthusiasm, he is eager to make an impact for the five-time champions in the IPL 2025.

Mujeeb has also played in the IPL for four seasons, featuring in the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings teams. He has 19 wickets in 19 matches with a best of 3/27 and an economy of 8.18. His last appearance in the IPL came in the 2021 edition of the tournament that was played in the UAE.

He was one of the youngest players ever to have represented Afghanistan and made an instant impact with the ball, leading to an IPL debut at the age of 17.

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