Afghanistan’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has established himself as a key performer in all formats since his debut in 2019, earning praise for his big-match performances and record-breaking feats.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, an emerging Afghan cricketer, has captured global attention with his lightning-fast glovework and powerful strokeplay. He has been Afghanistan’s standout performer in recent years, delivering match-winning performances in major ICC tournaments. Notably, he became the first Afghan batter to smash an ODI century on debut during the 2021 series against Ireland. In 2023, Gurbaz blazed his way to a career-best 151 runs against Pakistan in an ODI, eclipsing MS Dhoni’s long-standing 2005 record of 148 at Visakhapatnam. This remains the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper-batter against Pakistan in ODI cricket. His wicketkeeping skills have further cemented the belief that Afghanistan’s cricket future rests in his capable hands. Born on 28 November 2001 in Khost province, Afghanistan, Gurbaz showed academic promise in his youth and was encouraged by his father to pursue medicine. However, his life changed when he witnessed the reverence bestowed upon Afghanistan’s cricket legends during a team visit to his hometown. Inspired by their fame, he resolved to become a cricketer and earn the same admiration from fans. Gurbaz identifies as a Muslim, with reports suggesting he follows the Sunni denomination. He hails from the Gurbaz tribe, which is part of the Pashtun ethnic community. Coming from a close-knit family of nine—his parents and seven brothers—Gurbaz, the second youngest among his siblings, was adored and indulged by his family. Among his brothers, Afsar Ali Saadat stands as the eldest, while Masood Gurbaz is his younger sibling. The financial details of Gurbaz’s net worth remain undisclosed. However, estimates can be drawn from his cricket earnings and endorsement deals. His central contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board ranges between $20,000 and $40,000. Gurbaz first stepped into international cricket during the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe T20I match at Mirpur on 14 September 2019. His one-day international debut followed on 21 January 2021 in the fixture against Ireland in Abu Dhabi. He has also played a solitary Test match, which took place on 28 February 2024 against Ireland at Tolerance Oval. In ODIs, Gurbaz has compiled 1,888 runs from 52 appearances, averaging 37.01 with a top score of 151. He boasts eight centuries and seven fifties, along with 160 fours and 67 sixes in the format. In the shortest format, T20Is, he has accumulated 2,166 runs in 84 matches at a 25.78 average, including a highest score of 100 and one century along with eleven fifties. Since joining the IPL in 2022, Gurbaz has been a regular feature for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He has scored 363 runs in 19 games at a 21.35 average, with a top score of 81, a strike rate of 134.94, two fifties, 34 fours, and 22 sixes. He has also taken 17 catches. In the ILT20, he has played for four different franchises, tallying 567 runs from 30 matches at a 19.55 average and a best of 81. Gurbaz’s accolades include leading the run-scoring charts in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup with 117 runs. In 2021, he became the first Afghan batter to score an ODI century on debut (127), earning the Player of the Match award. In 2022, he reached 1,000 ODI runs in just 19 innings—the fastest by any Afghan—and reached five ODI hundreds in the same span, matching the third-fastest milestone worldwide. Afghanistan’s aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz is widely recognized for his explosive batting and pivotal role as an opener in limited-overs cricket. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s age and birthday? As of 2026, he is 24 years old, and his birthday is celebrated every year on 28 November. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s height? He stands at approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, which is around 1.73 meters. How many centuries has Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored? Gurbaz has struck nine centuries to date—eight in ODIs and one in T20Is. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s net worth and salary? His exact net worth remains unreleased, though his earnings can be approximated from his central contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, valued between $20,000 and $40,000. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s jersey number? What are Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s career achievements? All images used are for editorial purposes only and are licensed through Getty/Source.