Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a dynamic Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman known for his explosive opening batting and agile glovework. Born in 2001, he has represented Afghanistan internationally across formats, earning a reputation as a power-hitter with a strike rate exceeding 140 in T20s. In the IPL, he was with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2025, where he served as a backup opener and keeper.
In IPL 2025 for KKR, Gurbaz played 12 matches, scoring 278 runs at a strike rate of 152. He smashed 24 sixes, including a blistering 67 off 32 balls against Mumbai Indians, helping KKR chase 200+. His keeping was sharp, with 8 dismissals, contributing to KKR's playoff push despite inconsistent starts.
For the IPL 2026 auction, Gurbaz enters as a capped player with a base price of ₹1.5 Cr. Interest is high from teams like Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, seeking aggressive openers and versatile keepers amid squad rebuilds.
Expect Gurbaz to anchor top-order fireworks in IPL 2026, potentially as a regular opener with improved consistency. His death-over hitting and keeping could fetch a multi-crore deal. Realistic auction price: ₹4-6 Cr, driven by scarcity of explosive keepers.