Who Could Have Imagined? Mustafizur Sold for ₹9.2 Crore!

In what is arguably the biggest moment of his Indian Premier League (IPL) auction career, Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was sold for a staggering ₹9.2 crore (approximately BDT 12.37 crore) to the Kolkata Knight Riders. The figure left fans and analysts alike in disbelief, marking a massive leap from his previous auction highs.

The 26-year-old speedster, affectionately nicknamed “Fizz,” had never fetched anywhere near this sum in his IPL journey. His previous record price was ₹2.2 crore, secured in 2018 when Mumbai Indians acquired him. Since then, Mustafizur’s auction fortunes have fluctuated, reflecting the unpredictable nature of IPL bidding wars.

This year, seven Bangladeshi cricketers entered the auction, but Mustafizur’s selection was widely anticipated due to his consistent performances. Over eight IPL seasons, he has played 60 matches and claimed 65 wickets. Though his form has ebbed and flowed, he remains widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the death overs globally—a reputation that explains the keen competition for his services.

The surprising aspect, however, is not just his selection but the astronomical price tag. Even at the peak of his early career, Mustafizur had rarely commanded such sums. In fact, during several auctions, he was often overlooked despite his reputation as a fearsome death-over specialist.

Mustafizur first entered the IPL auction in 2016, when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for ₹1.4 crore. That season, he delivered 17 wickets in 16 matches at an exceptional economy of 6.90 runs per over, playing a pivotal role in Hyderabad’s title triumph. His performances earned him the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award, an honour no other foreign player claimed that season.

He returned to the auction in 2018, bought by Mumbai Indians for ₹2.2 crore. Between 2021 and 2024, Mustafizur went under the hammer four more times: Rajasthan Royals acquired him for ₹1 crore in 2021, while Delhi Capitals snapped him up for ₹2 crore in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he played for Chennai Super Kings, and in 2025 he joined Delhi Capitals as a replacement player, although no team showed initial interest in him at the auction.

Performance-wise, Mustafizur has struggled to replicate his stellar debut season. He twice claimed 14 wickets in a season, in 2021 and 2024, while in the most recent season, he took four wickets in three matches. Despite these fluctuations, the IPL auction has finally recognised his potential with this record-breaking price.

Mustafizur Rahman IPL Auction Journey

The ₹9.2 crore acquisition cements Mustafizur’s place not only in IPL history but also as a symbol of Bangladeshi cricket’s rising prominence on the global stage. Fans now eagerly await to see whether he can justify this investment with match-winning performances.