In a thrilling IPL 2025 Auction, Afghanistan's promising spinner Allah Ghazanfar made a big splash as Mumbai Indians secured him for a whopping Rs 4.8 crore. The 18-year-old spinner, known for his brilliant performance in recent ODIs, including a standout spell against Bangladesh, attracted intense bidding from several franchises. Kolkata Knight Riders, who were interested in bringing him back, ultimately lost out to Mumbai Indians, who won the bidding war.

Ghazanfar’s rise in international cricket has been meteoric. Starting his journey as a fast bowler, he was transformed into a mystery spinner by former Afghanistan captain Dawlat Ahmadzai. Ghazanfar’s stellar performances in the 2024 U-19 World Cup, where he picked up eight wickets in four matches, earned him a call-up to the senior team. His ODI debut against Ireland followed, and he continued to impress, especially in the Emerging Asia Cup, where he won the Player of the Match award in the final against Sri Lanka A, helping Afghanistan claim the title.

Ghazanfar’s IPL journey began with Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 season, where he was a replacement for Mujeeb Ur Rahman, although he did not feature in any matches during the campaign. His IPL 2025 acquisition by Mumbai Indians highlights his rapid growth as one of the most exciting young spinners in world cricket.

The auction also saw several notable buys, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 10.75 crore after a heated bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Deepak Chahar made a high-profile move from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to Mumbai Indians, while Tushar Deshpande was picked up by Rajasthan Royals after a fierce bidding battle with CSK.

In addition, Gerald Coetzee was a quick steal for Gujarat Titans at Rs 2.4 crore.