Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Opposition bowlers dread the sight of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over of a T20, because he treats the new ball as an invitation to attack. He swings hard through the line and clears the infield with effortless power, turning good-length deliveries into half-volleys. His fearless hitting, especially over the leg side, has made him one of the most dangerous openers in the shortest format.

Gurbaz announced himself with a century on ODI debut against Ireland in 2021, and his 80 against England at the 2023 World Cup set up one of Afghanistan's most famous wins. At the 2024 T20 World Cup he was the tournament's leading run-scorer as Afghanistan reached their first semi-final. He takes down pace early and does not spare the spinners either, using a strong bottom hand to find boundaries anywhere.

Beyond the fireworks, Gurbaz has worked on his range and temperament, learning to pace an innings in the longer formats, and his wicketkeeping has made him a fixture in franchise leagues, including with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and in the CPL. Still in his early twenties, he shows few signs of slowing down, intent on powering Afghanistan to more major tournament upsets.