The cricket world is abuzz with the emergence of a new sensation, 18-year-old Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar. Recently acquired by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 4 crore 80 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Ghazanfar has been making waves with his impressive performances. His latest feat is a testament to his exceptional talent, as he becomes the first bowler in ODI history to take 5 wickets twice before the age of 20.
Record-Breaking Performance
Ghazanfar’s remarkable achievement came in the third and final ODI match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club on December 21. He took 5 wickets for just 33 runs in 10 overs, leaving the opposition reeling. This is not the first time Ghazanfar has achieved this feat; he had previously taken 5 wickets in an ODI match against Bangladesh in Sharjah in November. At just 18 years and 231 days old, he became the 5th youngest bowler to achieve this milestone.
A Historic Achievement
Ghazanfar’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering that no other bowler has taken 5 wickets twice in ODI cricket before the age of 20. He joins an elite group of bowlers, including Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Waqar Younis, and Rashid Khan, who have achieved this feat, but none of them have done it twice. Ghazanfar’s performance has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, and Mumbai Indians fans are eagerly awaiting his debut in the IPL.