Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan's dynamic wicket-keeper batter, has emerged as a key player with explosive batting and sharp glovework. Born in 2001, he has delivered in critical matches and holds multiple ODI records.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is an emerging Afghan cricketer who has stunned the cricketing world with his lightning-fast wicket-keeping skills and aggressive batting style. He has been instrumental for Afghanistan in recent years, excelling particularly in high-pressure ICC events. In 2021, he etched his name in history as the first Afghan cricketer to score a century on ODI debut during Afghanistan's maiden series against Ireland. In 2023, he shattered records by smashing a personal best of 151 runs against Pakistan in an ODI innings. This remarkable performance surpassed MS Dhoni’s 2005 score of 148 at Visakhapatnam, securing Gurbaz’s place as the top wicket-keeper batter against Pakistan in ODI cricket. His wicket-keeping prowess has cemented his reputation as a reliable guardian behind the stumps for Afghanistan’s future. Born on 28 November 2001 in Khost province, Afghanistan, Gurbaz excelled academically as a young student. His father envisioned a career in medicine for him, yet a pivotal moment changed his course. While watching Afghanistan’s cricket legends receive admiration during a hometown visit, Gurbaz felt inspired and decided to pursue cricket, aiming to earn the same respect. Rahmanullah Gurbaz identifies as a Muslim, with some sources indicating affiliation with the Sunni sect. He hails from the Gurbaz tribe, which is part of the Pashtun ethnic community. Gurbaz originates from a large family, consisting of two parents and seven brothers. As the second-youngest son, he was cherished by his older siblings and parents alike. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has seven brothers; one of his elder brothers is Afsar Ali Saadat, while his younger brother is Masood Gurbaz. Though Gurbaz has not publicly disclosed his net worth, estimates can be drawn from his cricket contracts and endorsement deals. His central contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board ranges between $20,000 and $40,000. His international cricket journey began on 14 September 2019 during the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe T20I match in Mirpur. His One-Day International (ODI) debut followed on 21 January 2021 in the match against Ireland in Abu Dhabi. Gurbaz has featured in a single Test match to date, which took place on 28 February 2024 against Ireland in Tolerance. In ODIs, he has compiled 1,888 runs in 52 matches at an impressive average of 37.01, with a highest score of 151. His ODI record includes 8 centuries, 7 half-centuries, 160 fours, and 67 sixes. In T20 Internationals, Gurbaz has scored 2,166 runs across 84 matches, maintaining an average of 25.78 and a top score of 100. He has one century and 11 half-centuries in this format. Since joining the IPL in 2022, Gurbaz has been a regular feature in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. He has amassed 363 runs in 19 matches at an average of 21.35, with a best of 81. His strike rate stands at 134.94, along with 2 half-centuries, 34 fours, 22 sixes, and 17 catches. In the ILT20, he has played for four different franchises, accumulating 567 runs in 30 matches at an average of 19.55, with a top score of 81. Gurbaz boasts an impressive list of achievements and titles. He was the leading run-scorer with 117 runs in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup. In 2021, he became the first Afghan to score an ODI century on debut (127) and was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. In 2022, he achieved two milestones: becoming the fastest Afghan to reach 1,000 ODI runs in 19 innings and the joint-third fastest to achieve five ODI centuries in the same number of innings. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is an Afghan cricketer celebrated for his fearless batting approach and his role as a wicket-keeper opener in limited-overs formats. How old is Rahmanullah Gurbaz and when is his birthday? As of 2026, Gurbaz is 23 years old, and his birthday is celebrated every year on 28 November. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s height? He stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, which is around 1.73 meters. How many centuries has Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored? Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored a total of 9 centuries so far — 8 in ODIs and 1 in T20Is. What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s net worth and salary? What is Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s jersey number? What are Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s career achievements? All images used are for editorial purposes only. License solely with Getty/Source.