Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has once again made headlines, this time with a record-breaking acquisition in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), co-owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, have secured the left-arm fast bowler for an astonishing ₹9.2 crore, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi cricketer in IPL history.
Previously, Mustafizur represented Delhi Capitals in the IPL, stepping in for Australian batter Jack Fraser-McGurk due to personal reasons. At that time, his auction value stood at ₹6 crore, although he had not been acquired through a formal auction process. This year, however, KKR snapped him up directly from the auction, surpassing the record previously held by Bangladesh’s former captain Mashrafe Mortaza. Mashrafe was purchased by Kolkata for $600,000—equivalent to ₹4.2 crore at the exchange rate of that time. Mustafizur, who had a base price of ₹2 crore, has now comfortably eclipsed that benchmark.
This will be Mustafizur’s sixth IPL franchise. Over the years, he has represented:
| Season | Team |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| – | Mumbai Indians |
| – | Rajasthan Royals |
| – | Delhi Capitals |
| – | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
Making his IPL debut in 2016 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 30-year-old left-arm pacer has played a total of 60 IPL matches, claiming 65 wickets to date. His impactful performances earned him the Emerging Player of the Year award in his debut season, during which he claimed 17 wickets. Known for his deadly variations and sharp yorkers, Mustafizur has consistently been a match-winner and a crowd favourite in the IPL.
KKR’s decision to invest heavily in Mustafizur underscores the franchise’s faith in his ability to lead the bowling attack and deliver in high-pressure situations. His record-breaking price not only reflects his on-field accomplishments but also highlights the growing prominence of Bangladeshi players in global T20 leagues.
With the auction concluded, Mustafizur joins a star-studded KKR lineup alongside some of the world’s top cricketers. Fans and cricket analysts alike are now eagerly anticipating how the record signing will perform in the upcoming season, hoping that the bowler’s lethal pace and tactical acumen will guide KKR to IPL glory.