'He would have fetched at least 20 crores': Ex-Indian cricketer predicts huge IPL deal for this fast bowler

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that if the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction had taken place after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani could have received bids of more than ₹20 crore.

Muzarabani has been in great form, taking nine wickets in three group-stage matches with an average of 7.88 and an economy rate of 5.91.



Blessing Muzarabani played a key role in Zimbabwe’s big group-stage wins over Australia and Sri Lanka. He took 4 for 17 in the famous win against OZs, dismissing important batters like Josh Inglis and Tim David.

Kaif said that Muzarabani missed out on a huge payday because the Indian Premier League 2026 auction was held in December, before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

"It is not an easy thing to defeat Australia and then Sri Lanka in their home. The match against Sri Lanka was a sellout one as well. So, to play in front of that home ground, and on a slow pitch, where Pakistan struggled to chase 176, Zimbabwe chased down 179. Zimbabwe showed how to play on that pitch," Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"Blessing Muzarabani is an exceptional bowler. He will be targeted by IPL franchises in the future. He bowls in every phase of the game, with the new ball and the old. He is six foot eight inches; he also has height. If the IPL Auction was held after the World Cup, and the way Muzarabani is bowling now, I can tell you with guarantee that he would have fetched at least 20 crores in the IPL Auction. He is unlucky that the IPL Auction is already done," he said of the in-form bowler.

In the past, Blessing Muzarabani worked as a net bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants and in the 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed him as a temporary replacement after Lungi Ngidi was unavailable towards the end of the tournament.

Kaif thinks that Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani is a more skilled and rounded bowler than the best Australian bowlers, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. He is basically saying that even though Cummins and Starc were acquired for a record-breaking amount of ₹24.75 crore and ₹20.50 crore spent on the Australian pair at the auction, Muzarabani has a better mix of skills.

Mohammad Kaif says that Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani is a more rounded bowler than Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, despite the astonishing ₹24.75 crore and ₹20.50 crore spent on the Australian pair at the auction.

"We have seen these Australian and New Zealand bowlers for a long time now, earning a lot of money. What has Starc done? Sure, he won those 2 important games for KKR. Remove those 2 matches, and check the other matches, he has been hit for runs in those. Whenever he has played for Delhi, he has been hit for a lot of runs. Muzarabani could do a better job than Starc," Kaif added.




Celebrating India's sporting legends at the Times of India Sports Awards - Book Passes Now!.