Rahmanullah

Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz Biography and Career

Known for his aggressive batting, agility behind the stumps and fearless approach, Afghanistan's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has become one of Afghanistan's key batter in limited-overs cricket.

Born on November 28, 2001, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Gurbaz's journey to becoming a cricketer amid the challenges of growing up in a rural and tumultuous area is a testament to his determination and love for the game.

While his father, a school principal, wanted him to pursue a career in medicine, Gurbaz was drawn to cricket, a path that was informally supported by his friends, who recognised his natural talent.

Gurbaz's passion for cricket was initially not supported by his family. After discovering his love for cricket, his brother reacted strongly by burning his cricket bat. Despite this setback, the support of his friends helped him continue playing. His skills eventually caught the attention of Mohammad Khan Zadran, a former cricketer and coach. He then invited Gurbaz to join an academy and offered to guide his progress in cricket.

Soon, Gurbaz made his List A debut at the age of 15 for Afghanistan A against Zimbabwe A during their tour to Zimbabwe in January 2017. He made his Twenty20 debut for Mis Ainak Knights in the 2017 Shpageeza Cricket League in September 2017. The next year, he was selected in Afghanistan's squad for the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Later that year, he was Afghanistan's most prolific batter in the Under-19 Asia Cup. He was the leading run-scorer for Afghanistan in the 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, with 117 runs in four matches.

Gurbaz, initially a boundary-hitter, evolved into a mature batter by this time, mastering the art of pacing innings while retaining his aggressive edge. His performances soon brought him offers to play in different franchise cricket. In September 2018, Gurbaz was named in Paktia's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament, that's where his career in franchise cricket took off. He then got offers to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Lanka Premier League (LPL )and finally Indian Premier League (IPL).

In IPL, he was named as Jason Roy's replacement in the Gujarat Titans (GT) squad for the 2022 Indian Premier League. For the IPL 2023 season, he was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and represented the now three-time, then two-time IPL Champions. He made his debut against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He played a vital role and helped the Kolkata Knight Riders win their third IPL title in the 2024 season.

Today, Gurbaz is an important player for Afghanistan's squad in international cricket. When needed stability in their batting department, especially in the top order, Gurbaz provided that when he started his cricketing journey in international cricket. His journey began with a T20I debut against Zimbabwe on September 14, 2019, where he smashed 43 off 24 balls, which announced his arrival at the international level. 

His debut in the ODI came on January 21, 2021, against Ireland. This was the historic debut for him as he scored 127 runs with a strike rate of 100, becoming the first Afghan to score a century on ODI debut. His innings included 8 fours and 9 sixes. In Tests, he played his solitary match against Ireland in February 2024, scoring 51 runs. 

His standout moment came during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he smashed 280 runs, including 80 runs off 57 balls against England, helping Afghanistan secure the victory by 69 runs. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Gurbaz was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, scoring 281 runs in 8 games, powering Afghanistan to their first-ever World Cup semifinal. 

The year 2023 was arguably the finest year for Gurbaz. He scored two ODI centuries, including a career-best 151 against Pakistan, and played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s World Cup victories over England and Pakistan. His maiden T20I century also came that year, cementing his reputation as a versatile white-ball star. He scored 100 runs off 52 balls against UAE. His IPL performances, including 81 runs off 39 balls against Gujarat Titans, showcased his ability to dominate top-tier bowling attacks.

He currently holds the record for the most ODI centuries (eight as of now) scored by an Afghan player. Gurbaz is a valuable asset for any team and has achieved success in franchise cricket, having played in various T20 leagues around the world.

Beyond Cricket

Outside cricket, Rahmanullah Gurbaz leads a grounded life rooted in his Afghan heritage. He grew up in a challenging environment and found solace in cricket, playing with improvised equipment. His father, a retired school principal, and mother, a homemaker, initially opposed his cricketing dreams, but now his family supports him. 

Gurbaz is known for his charitable acts, especially his act of giving money to people sleeping on the streets of Ahmedabad during Diwali. He also raised funds for the victims of the Herat earthquake in Afghanistan.

Gurbaz's cricket career has earned him a decent income. Presently, his net worth is estimated at around $5 million, which he mainly earns from domestic cricket tournaments, franchise cricket fees, match-winning amounts, and brand endorsements. He also owns an impressive collection of cars, which includes Toyota Corolla (about Rs 16.45 lakh to Rs 20.19 lakh), BMW X5 (about Rs 1 crore) and a Toyota Land Cruiser (about Rs 2 crore).

Rahmanullah Gurbaz Records

Rahmanullah Gurbaz ODI Records:

• First Afghan to Score Century on Debut: Scored 127 off 127 balls against Ireland in January 2021.
• Second-Fastest to Reach 1,000 ODI Runs for Afghanistan: Achieved the feat in 27 innings, after Ibrahim Zadran, who achieved it in 24 innings.
• Third fastest to score 5 ODI centuries: Achieved this milestone in 23 innings, after South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (19 innings) and Pakistan’s Iman-ul-Haq (19 innings).
• Highest ODI Score: Scored 151 runs against Pakistan in 2023, the first 150+ by an Afghan wicketkeeper-batter against Pakistan.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz T20I Records:

• Leading Run-Scorer in 2024 T20 World Cup: Smashed 281 runs in eight games, powering Afghanistan to the semifinals.
• Maiden T20I Century: Scored 100 runs off 52 balls, including 7 fours and 7 sixes, against UAE in 2023

Rahmanullah Gurbaz IPL Records:

• First Afghan to Score IPL Fifty: Scored 57 off 44 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2023 IPL season.
• Highest IPL Score: Smashed 81 runs off 39 balls against Gujarat Titans in 2023, at a strike rate of 207.69.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz Other Formats:

• Top Run-Scorer for Afghanistan in the 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup: Scored 117 runs in 4 matches, with a strike rate of 87.96.
• Third-highest run-getter in the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League: Playing for Delhi Bulls, scored 343 runs in 13 matches, with a strike rate of 214.37. His highest score was 70 runs.