Why Rahmanullah Gurbaz Is the New Face of T20 Cricket
News Desk
Islamabad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quickly becoming one of the most exciting faces of modern cricket. Aggressive with the bat, lightning-fast behind the stumps, and fearless under pressure, the Afghan wicketkeeper-batter has transformed from a teenage prospect into a global T20 star.
At just 15 years old, Gurbaz was already turning heads in Afghanistan’s domestic circuit.
He made his List A debut for Afghanistan A in 2017 and soon entered the spotlight during the Under-19 World Cup and the Under-19 Asia Cup, where he emerged as one of Afghanistan’s most promising young batters.
But it was his international debut that truly announced his arrival.
In his very first T20I in 2019 against Zimbabwe, Gurbaz smashed 43 runs off only 24 balls, showing the explosive style that would later define his career.
A few matches later, he scored his maiden T20I fifty and cemented his place as Afghanistan’s first-choice opener.
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His rise in ODI cricket was equally dramatic.
In 2021, he became the first Afghan batter ever to score a century on ODI debut, a milestone that instantly made him a national sensation. Since then, he has formed one of Afghanistan’s strongest opening partnerships alongside Ibrahim Zadran.
The year 2023 proved to be a breakthrough phase. Gurbaz smashed massive ODI scores of 145 and 151 against Bangladesh and Pakistan, before adding his first T20I century later that year.
His fearless attacking style and ability to dominate bowling attacks made him one of the most talked-about batters in world cricket.
However, the biggest reason Gurbaz is trending globally came during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. He finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer and played a central role in helping Afghanistan reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time in history.
His performances earned praise from cricket legends and fans across the globe, turning him into a symbol of Afghanistan’s growing cricket power.
Beyond international cricket, Gurbaz has become a hot property in franchise leagues. He has featured in the PSL, IPL, CPL, BPL, LPL, and ILT20, gaining popularity for his explosive starts and match-winning ability. Remarkably, he has already won the IPL twice with different franchises, a rare achievement for such a young player.
What makes Gurbaz stand out is not just his power-hitting, but his fearless attitude. Whether Afghanistan are chasing big totals or facing cricket giants, Gurbaz plays with confidence and aggression, often setting the tone for the entire team.
Today, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is more than just a cricketer. He represents Afghanistan’s cricket revolution, a generation of players proving that the country can compete with the world’s best on the biggest stages.
