AM Ghazanfar

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is an 18-year-old 'mystery spin' sensation from Afghanistan who was acquired by Mumbai Indians for ₹4.80 crore at the IPL auction. Standing at 6'2', Ghazanfar is a unique talent who uses his height and high release point to extract bounce alongside a lethal carrom ball. He shot to global prominence in November 2024 when he dismantled Bangladesh with a career-best 6/26 in 6.3 overs, the best-ever figures by any bowler in Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODIs. His ability to turn the ball both ways with minimal change in action has drawn frequent comparisons to modern greats like Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Despite being the youngest player in the 2023 auction at just 15, Ghazanfar’s real breakthrough came during the 2024 Under-19 World Cup and the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where he helped lead Afghanistan A to their maiden title. While an injury kept him out of the 2025 IPL season after being signed as a replacement, he enters 2026 as one of the most feared young spinners in the world. His T20 credentials include a stint with MI Emirates in the ILT20 and an exceptional economy rate of 5.71 in shorter formats. As he joins the Mumbai Indians’ ranks, Ghazanfar is poised to be the strategic 'X-factor' to partner Jasprit Bumrah, offering the five-time champions a world-class wicket-taking option in the middle overs.