Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has secured a surprise return to the Indian Premier League (IPL), joining Delhi Capitals as a replacement player, the franchise confirmed via social media on Tuesday.
The left-armer had gone unsold during the IPL auction, but finds himself back in familiar colours after Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk withdrew from the remainder of the season citing “personal reasons.” Mustafizur had previously featured for Delhi in the 2022 and 2023 editions, claiming nine wickets across two seasons.
According to an official statement published on the IPL website, Mustafizur has been signed for ₹6 crore – a substantial increase from his ₹2 crore base price at the auction. The move comes in the wake of IPL’s brief suspension following escalating tensions and reciprocal strikes between India and Pakistan, which prompted several overseas players to return home.
Delhi Capitals currently sit fifth on the table with 13 points from 11 games. They remain in contention for a playoff spot, trailing fourth-placed Mumbai Indians – who have played one match more – by a single point.
While Mustafizur’s return is a headline in itself, securing a place in the playing XI may prove challenging. He faces competition from fellow left-arm seamers Mitchell Starc and T. Natarajan. Starc’s availability, however, remains uncertain as he is yet to confirm his return from Australia.
Despite limited match opportunities in the remainder of the league stage, Mustafizur’s signing is historically significant for Bangladeshi cricket. With this deal, he becomes the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history, surpassing the previous record held by Mashrafe Mortaza, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for $600,000 in 2009.
The IPL is scheduled to resume on 17 May, with Delhi’s next fixture set for 18 May against Gujarat Titans. However, Mustafizur’s participation in that match is uncertain, as he is currently part of Bangladesh’s T20I squad for the two-match series against the UAE, which begins in Dubai on 17 May. He is expected to fly out from Dhaka later today.