Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has every reason to feel jubilant. In a stunning development at the IPL 2025 auction, he was sold for ₹9.2 crore, equivalent to roughly BDT 12.37 crore—a record in his IPL career.
Few would have anticipated such a staggering price. For context, his previous highest IPL bid was only ₹2.2 crore, acquired by Mumbai Indians in 2018. Known for its unpredictability, the IPL auction has this time delivered Mustafizur a massive windfall.
This season, seven Bangladeshi cricketers entered the auction, but Mustafizur’s selection seemed almost certain given his track record in the league. Over eight IPL seasons, he has played 60 matches and claimed 65 wickets, demonstrating his consistent impact as a potent bowler.
Despite fluctuations in form, Mustafizur has long been recognised as one of the world’s finest bowlers in death overs. His inclusion in teams has rarely been a surprise. What is truly astonishing, however, is the price tag itself—his career has never commanded such a figure, not even during the peak of his bowling prowess. Historically, Mustafizur often went underbid in auctions despite regularly troubling batsmen worldwide.
A brief look back at his IPL journey: Mustafizur first entered the auction in 2016, purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.4 crore. His debut season was exceptional: 16 matches, 17 wickets, and an economy rate of just 6.90 runs per over. He played a pivotal role in Hyderabad’s championship victory and won the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award, a rare honour for a foreign recruit.
In 2018, Mumbai Indians acquired him for ₹2.2 crore. Between 2021 and 2024, Mustafizur’s name appeared in successive auctions. Rajasthan Royals picked him in 2021 for ₹1 crore, while Delhi Capitals secured him in 2022 and 2023 for ₹2 crore each. In 2024, he played for Chennai Super Kings. For IPL 2025, no team initially showed interest, though Delhi Capitals later signed him as a replacement player.
Performance-wise, Mustafizur has struggled to replicate the brilliance of his debut. He recorded 14 wickets twice—once in 2021 and again in 2024. In the most recent season, he took four wickets in three matches. Yet, this record-breaking auction price demonstrates that franchises continue to recognise his potential as a game-changer in crucial overs.
Mustafizur Rahman: IPL Auction Timeline & Prices
| Year | Team | Auction Price (₹ crore) | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1.4 | 16 | 17 | 6.90 | IPL Emerging Player of the Year |
| 2018 | Mumbai Indians | 2.2 | 7 | 7 | 8.36 | Career high pre‑2025 |
| 2021 | Rajasthan Royals | 1.0 | 14 | 14 | 8.41 | Solid return |
| 2022 | Delhi Capitals | 2.0 | 8 | 8 | 7.62 | Consistent |
| 2023 | Delhi Capitals | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 11.29 | Limited opportunities |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | 2.0 | 9 | 14 | 9.26 | Best recent season |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 9.2 | – | – | – | Record auction price |
Mustafizur Rahman’s journey underscores the unpredictability of the IPL auction, where past performance, potential, and team strategy converge to produce headline-making deals—and this time, the Bangladeshi speedster has far exceeded all expectations.