Afghanistan keeps producing talented cricketers every year. Azmatullah Omarzai is another gem from that country’s cricket system. His all-round skills caught attention during recent international tournaments.
He bowls quickly and hits the ball really hard too. Last season proved he can handle IPL pressure situations well. Now he’s ready for bigger responsibilities this year.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s IPL Team for 2026
Punjab Kings grabbed Azmatullah Omarzai during the 2025 auction chaos. Chennai Super Kings competed hard but couldn’t match Punjab’s final bid. The IPL Team clearly had specific plans for him.
Gujarat Titans gave him his IPL debut last season actually. But now he’s switched to this side for better opportunities. He impressed everyone with his debut performance against the Mumbai Indians there.
His 2/27 bowling figures in that first game turned heads immediately. The IPL Team saw potential in his new-ball swing bowling instantly. Plus, that 33 off 20 against Delhi showed his batting power too.
Ricky Ponting will mentor him closely with the franchise now. Azmatullah Omarzai gets to learn from a legend this season. The management wants him to bowl tough overs and finish innings occasionally.
His IPL Price Details
His Price jumped massively from last year’s contract value. Gujarat paid just ₹50 lakh for him in 2024 originally. Now, Punjab spent ₹2.40 Crore to bring him over.
That’s almost five times more than his previous salary. His T20 World Cup performances definitely boosted his market value significantly. The money shows how quickly young players can grow their worth.
Multiple franchises pushed his auction amount up through competitive bidding. The final IPL Price of ₹2.40 Crore reflects his rising stock. For someone with 16 IPL matches, this amount is pretty impressive actually.
Career Journey and Playing Style
Azmatullah Omarzai played Afghanistan’s U19 World Cup back in 2018. He took 7 wickets and scored 66 runs in that contest. His senior breakthrough came during the 2024 T20 World Cup though.
Afghanistan got to the semifinals there, and he did well massively throughout. Those 87 runs and 6 wickets proved he belongs at the highest level. His form brought Afghanistan cricket into the global spotlight again.
He’s played 16 IPL matches so far with mixed results. His 12 wickets cost 38.75 runs each on average. The batting numbers show 99 runs at a strike rate of 133.78.
What to Expect in 2026
Omarzai brings fresh energy to Punjab’s bowling attack. He swings the new ball nicely in powerplay overs. That skill could solve some early wicket problems for them.
His big hitting gives captains an extra batting option down the order. He can clear boundaries when the team needs quick runs. Working under Ponting’s guidance should improve his game significantly this season.
