Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, has made a name for himself with his aggressive batting and record-breaking performances across all formats.
The 24-year-old has played a key role in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket and continues to shine in major T20 leagues around the world.
In this article, you will know Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s net worth, career earnings, career overview, stats, relationship details, and more.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| Date of Birth | November 28, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years |
| Nationality | Afghan |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Turned Pro | 2017 |
| IPL Salary | ₹2 crore |
| @RGurbaz_21 | |
| @rahmanullah.gurbaz |
Early Career
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, on November 28, 2001, into a family from the Gurbaz tribe. Growing up in a rural and challenging environment, he found peace in cricket and started playing with improvised equipment.
His father worked as a school principal and wanted him to become a doctor, but Gurbaz had different plans. He fell in love with cricket and decided to pursue it against his family’s wishes.
His early cricketing journey was filled with obstacles. When his brother Afsar Ali Saadat Gurbaz discovered his commitment to cricket, he burned his cricket bat to discourage him from playing.
However, Gurbaz remained determined and secretly worked as a laborer during the construction of his own family home to earn money for cricket equipment. His friend Mohammad Qadir supported him by providing transportation and investing in his cricket gear, while another friend Hedayatullah shared his bat with him.
His talent caught the attention of former cricketer and coach Mohammad Khan Zadran during a match where Gurbaz scored a half-century. Impressed by his potential, Zadran invited him to join an academy and offered to guide his development.
Gurbaz made his List A debut for Afghanistan A against Zimbabwe A during their tour to Zimbabwe on January 27, 2017. He was just 15 years old at the time.
Later that year, on September 12, 2017, he made his Twenty20 debut for Mis Ainak Knights in the Shpageeza Cricket League. His first-class debut came on March 1, 2018, for Mis Ainak Region in the Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament.
His consistent performances at the domestic level earned him a spot in Afghanistan’s Under-19 squad for the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup, where he scored 134 runs across five innings and announced his arrival on the international stage.
Professional Career
Rahmanullah Gurbaz made his international T20I debut for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe on September 14, 2019, during the Bangladesh Tri-Nation Series.
He quickly established himself as a dependable opener for the national team with his aggressive approach and ability to dominate bowling attacks from the start.
His ODI debut came on January 21, 2021, against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, where he scored an unforgettable 127 runs to become the first Afghan player to score a century on ODI debut and the 16th player overall to achieve this feat.
Since his debut, Gurbaz has become Afghanistan’s leading run-scorer and the player with the most ODI centuries for the country. He has scored eight ODI hundreds, surpassing Mohammad Shahzad’s record, and has equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring the most ODI centuries before turning 23.
His highest ODI score of 151 came against Pakistan in August 2023, and he also scored Afghanistan’s first T20I century against the United Arab Emirates in December 2023.
He made his Test debut against Ireland in February 2024 and has represented Afghanistan in major ICC tournaments, including the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Gurbaz has also built an impressive franchise cricket career across multiple leagues worldwide.
He made his IPL debut in 2022 when Gujarat Titans signed him as a replacement player, and he was later traded to Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2023.
He played a crucial role in helping KKR win their third IPL championship in 2024. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR brought him back for ₹2 crore.
Beyond the IPL, Gurbaz has played in the Pakistan Super League for Multan Sultans and Islamabad United, the Caribbean Premier League for Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Lanka Premier League for Jaffna Kings, the Bangladesh Premier League for Khulna Tigers and Rangpur Riders, and the International League T20 for Dubai Capitals.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s net worth stands at approximately $5 million. He has built this wealth through his cricket contracts with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, earnings from various T20 leagues around the world, brand endorsements, and match fees from international cricket.
Contract
Gurbaz holds a central contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board worth approximately $20,000 to $40,000 annually. This contract reflects the typical range for Afghan national team players who are part of the board’s centrally contracted pool.
As one of Afghanistan’s premier batsmen and a regular in all three formats, he receives match fees for every international game he plays.
The structure includes different rates for each format, with Test matches paying around $2,000 to $3,000 per match, ODIs paying approximately $1,000 to $1,500 per match, and T20Is paying roughly $500 to $1,000 per match.
His consistent presence in the national team across all formats ensures a steady income stream from international cricket. Beyond his Afghanistan commitments, Gurbaz signs contracts with various franchise teams across global T20 leagues, which form a major portion of his annual cricket earnings.
Salary
His IPL salary has grown significantly over the years. After joining Gujarat Titans as a replacement player in 2022, he was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹50 lakh ahead of IPL 2023. He earned the same amount in IPL 2024, bringing his total IPL earnings to ₹4.5 crore.
For IPL 2025, KKR bought him back at the mega auction for ₹2 crore, showing their faith in his abilities. His franchise cricket earnings extend far beyond the IPL.
He has participated in multiple T20 leagues including the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, Lanka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, International League T20, and the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
These leagues collectively contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to his annual income, making franchise cricket his primary source of earnings.
Career Earnings
| Year | IPL Team | IPL Salary | Other League Earnings (Approx) | International Cricket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | ₹50 lakh | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹50 lakh | $200,000 | $60,000 |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹50 lakh | $250,000 | $70,000 |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹2 crore | $300,000 | $80,000 |
| 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹2 crore | $350,000 (projected) | $90,000 (projected) |
Endorsements
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has attracted several brand partnerships and endorsement deals throughout his career.
He signed with Trillioner TLC2.0, a cryptocurrency banking platform, as their brand ambassador in 2024. He also became the brand ambassador for Khpawak Mobile, a mobile phone brand popular in Afghanistan.
In April 2025, Gurbaz signed with The Lettuce Co., an Indian talent management firm founded by Piyush Jain, who now represents him exclusively in all global commercial, branding, and appearance engagements.
This partnership aims to expand his commercial footprint in India and international markets through youth-centric sports, fashion, and lifestyle affiliations.
His endorsement earnings are estimated to be between $540,000 and $740,000, making brand deals a significant contributor to his overall net worth.
Career Stats
International Cricket Statistics
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 52 | 52 | 1,888 | 151 | 37.02 | 87.25 | 8 | 7 |
| T20I | 83 | 83 | 2,141 | 100 | 25.80 | 134.15 | 1 | 12 |
| Test | 2 | 4 | 97 | 46 | 24.25 | 56.73 | 0 | 0 |
Franchise Cricket Statistics
| League | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 19 | 18 | 363 | 81 | 21.35 | 134.94 | 2 |
| CPL | 15 | 15 | 426 | 69 | 28.40 | 158.36 | 3 |
| PSL | 15 | 15 | 318 | 62 | 22.71 | 159.80 | 1 |
| BPL | 6 | 6 | 168 | 51 | 28.00 | 129.23 | 1 |
| Abu Dhabi T10 | 53 | 53 | 1,279 | 70 | 26.65 | 184.29 | 6 |
FAQs
1. How many ODI centuries has Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored?
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored eight ODI centuries for Afghanistan as of 2026, making him the player with the most ODI hundreds for his country. He equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring eight ODI centuries before turning 23 years old.
2. What was special about Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s ODI debut?
Gurbaz scored 127 runs on his ODI debut against Ireland on January 21, 2021, in Abu Dhabi. He became the first Afghan player to score a century on ODI debut and the 16th player overall to achieve this remarkable feat in international cricket history.
3. Which IPL team does Rahmanullah Gurbaz play?
He plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL. KKR bought him for ₹2 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction after previously trading for him in 2023. He was part of their IPL 2024 championship-winning squad.
4. How did Rahmanullah Gurbaz start his cricket career?
Gurbaz started playing cricket with improvised equipment in Kabul despite his family’s opposition. His brother burned his cricket bat to stop him from playing. He secretly worked as a laborer to buy cricket gear, and friends helped him with equipment and transportation until coach Mohammad Khan Zadran discovered his talent.
5. What records has Rahmanullah Gurbaz broken in international cricket?
He broke Mohammad Shahzad’s record for most ODI centuries by an Afghan player with eight hundreds. Gurbaz also equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries before turning 23 and became the first Afghan batsman to score a T20I century against the United Arab Emirates in December 2023.
