Mujeeb Ur Rahman is an Afghan international cricketer widely regarded as one of the finest “mystery spinners” in modern limited-overs cricket. Known for his deceptive variations, control in the powerplay, and ability to trouble top batters, Mujeeb has been a crucial part of Afghanistan’s spin attack.

A product of Afghanistan’s growing cricket system, Mujeeb has evolved into a global T20 specialist, featuring in major franchise leagues and remaining a key figure in Afghanistan’s national setup.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s Early Life and Background

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was born on March 28, 2001, in Khost, Afghanistan. Unlike many Afghan cricketers who grew up in refugee camps or conflict-affected areas, Mujeeb came from a relatively well-off, stable family background. He grew up in a large family home with agricultural land, which provided him with a secure upbringing.

Cricket ran in his family — his uncle, Noor Ali Zadran, is a former Afghanistan international and one of the pioneers of Afghan cricket, while his cousin Ibrahim Zadran is also a current national team player. This environment played a major role in shaping his cricketing journey from a very young age.

Mujeeb first developed an interest in cricket while watching the 2012 T20 World Cup on television. He initially practised with a tennis ball, experimenting with spin variations by watching videos of Ajantha Mendis, Sunil Narine, and Ravichandran Ashwin. He later joined his uncle’s cricket academy in Khost, where he refined his technique and developed his trademark “carrom ball” and other variations.

His talent became evident during the 2017 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, where he took 20 wickets in just five matches, leading Afghanistan to their first title in the tournament. This performance fast-tracked him into the senior national team, making him one of the youngest ever international debutants in Afghan cricket history.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s Domestic Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman began his professional career in Afghanistan’s domestic circuit, making his List A debut for Speen Ghar Region in August 2017 and his T20 debut for Boost Defenders in the Shpageeza Cricket League a month later.

In 2018, he was a standout performer in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League for Nangarhar Leopards, finishing as their joint-leading wicket-taker. His growing reputation as a T20 specialist led to opportunities in the Big Bash League, where he took his first T20 five-wicket haul for Brisbane Heat in December 2020, claiming 5/15 against Hobart Hurricanes.

Mujeeb’s ability to adapt to different leagues and conditions has made him a valuable asset in franchise cricket, especially in the shortest format.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s International Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a key figure in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, establishing himself as one of the world’s most effective mystery spinners across formats. 

Since his ODI debut in 2017, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has consistently delivered for his national team, demonstrating his effectiveness as a wicket-taker with a repertoire of deceptive variations.

Although his Test career has been limited, his impact in white-ball cricket has been immense, making him a central pillar of Afghanistan’s bowling attack in global tournaments.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s Test Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his Test debut for Afghanistan on 14 June 2018 against India in Afghanistan’s historic inaugural Test match at Bengaluru. Remarkably, this was also his first-class debut, making him one of the very few cricketers to debut directly in Test cricket without prior first-class experience. At 17 years and 78 days, he became the first player born in the 21st century to play Test cricket and the youngest player to feature in his country’s inaugural Test match.

In that match, Mujeeb scored 15 and 3 in the two innings and took one wicket, dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara. Afghanistan lost the match within two days, and the team management gradually prioritised him as a white-ball specialist.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s ODI Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his ODI debut for Afghanistan against Ireland on 5 December 2017, where he immediately made a major impact, taking 4 wickets and winning the Player of the Match award. His early performances established him as one of the most exciting young bowlers in world cricket.

On 16 February 2018, against Zimbabwe, he became the youngest player in history to take an ODI five-wicket haul, achieving the feat at just 16 years and 325 days. This performance cemented his reputation as a match-winning bowler at an exceptionally young age.

During the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, Mujeeb played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s historic title win. He finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 wickets and delivered key spells in both the Super Six stage and the final against the West Indies, helping Afghanistan qualify for the 2019 ODI World Cup.

In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, he continued to be a key part of Afghanistan’s bowling attack and was later named the “Rising Star” by the ICC.

Over the years, Mujeeb has remained a consistent wicket-taker in ODI cricket, particularly effective in the middle overs with his variations and control.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s T20I Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his T20I debut for Afghanistan on 5 February 2018 against Zimbabwe. From the very beginning of his T20I career, he was seen as a PowerPlay specialist, often opening the bowling with his deceptive spin variations.

His most iconic T20I performance came in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, where he took a five-wicket haul (5/20) against Scotland in Afghanistan’s opening match. With this achievement, he became the first player in history to take a five-wicket haul on his T20 World Cup debut.

Throughout his T20I career, Mujeeb has been known for his ability to take wickets under pressure, especially in World Cups and high-stakes matches. His control, variation, and ability to bowl in different phases of the game have made him one of Afghanistan’s most valuable T20 assets.

In May 2024, he was again named in Afghanistan’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and he remains a key member of the national team in the 2026 T20 World Cup cycle.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s IPL Career

Mujeeb Ur Rahman made history in 2018 by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the Indian Premier League at just 17 years and 11 days when he debuted for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). His mystery spin, especially his carrom ball, made him a threat in the PowerPlay, and he played regularly for Punjab between 2018 and 2020.

In 2021, he was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad but received limited opportunities due to the presence of Rashid Khan as the primary overseas spinner.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Mujeeb was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders but was ruled out due to injury before the tournament began.

In February 2025, he made a return to the IPL when the Mumbai Indians signed him as an injury replacement for Allah Ghazanfar. However, Mujeeb went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction.

(As of February 2026)