[Exclusive] Being picked in the IPL is the most precious moment of my career: Gulbadin Naib

Published - 07 Aug 2025, 16:03 IST | Updated - 07 Aug 2025, 16:51 IST

Afghanistan's experienced cricketer Gulbadin Naib touched upon a variety of subjects in an exclusive interaction with CricTracker. The all-rounder revealed the IPL franchise he would want to represent in the future, the mood of the dressing room after their high-octane contests against Australia in the ODI and T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2024 and the future of cricket in Afghanistan amongst other things. He also picked an all-time India-Afghanistan combined XI.

Naib recently played for Band-e-Amir Dragons in the 2025 edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League. Naib has also played in franchise leagues all around the globe like the Indian Premier League (IPL), International League T20 (ILT20) and Bangladesh Premier League, (BPL). Speaking of his international career, he has represented Afghanistan in 89 ODIs and 75 T20Is, scoring 1332 and 945 runs respectively. Naib also has 74 and 33 wickets in the two formats respectively.

Australia are world champions. They have won a lot of ICC trophies, they have a lot of big cricketers and legends on their side. We always enjoy playing against a tough team. But the way Glenn Maxwell played against us in the ODI World Cup was sensational. Later, we got a second chance in the T20 WC, and we defeated them.

We already knew that we could defeat Australia. Even in the T20 World Cup 2022, we lost the match against Australia by only four runs. After that game, Rashid Khan motivated the whole team that we can defeat a team like Australia, but we have to put in more effort.

We did a lot of homework and analysis, and we defeated them in the T20 World Cup 2024. The pressure was always on Australia as they knew that Afghanistan is a team that has given them a tough time. We didn’t sleep after that win until morning. We were very happy. The news was all over the Afghan media.

Our players gained a lot of experience from the IPL. Those players shared their experiences with us in our dressing room, which helped us a great deal. It’s always a dream to play in a league like the IPL, and to play in such a league, we have been very lucky. These days, our cricket is progressing well globally, and I feel that the stage we are at is largely due to the significant impact of the IPL on Afghanistan cricket.

I would like to be a part of Delhi Capitals again. The hope I regained for my cricket came from the Capitals family. No matter how much I thank the Capitals family, it will never be enough. It’s always been a dream to play in the IPL. The day I was picked in IPL 2025 as a replacement player, it was the most precious day of my career. I am still a part of Dubai Capitals, winning the title last ILT20 season. I would like to thank the Capitals family for trusting me.

Yes, I have received a lot of advice from David Warner. In the past, I played with him in the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) as well. I learn a lot from him whenever I chat with him. Not just him, players like Sam Billings, Axar Patel, and Ishant Sharma, I used to spend a lot of time with them. We speak a lot about the game as all these players are legends of the game, and I’ve learnt a lot from these players in the last three years.

Yes. We recently concluded the SCL (Shpageeza Cricket League) 2025 season. We are hopeful of hosting the ICC tournament soon, thanks to the efforts being put in by our cricket board and management. A lot of countries are also willing to tour Afghanistan for international games. So, we’re hopeful of an ICC tournament as well in the country.

Our players are performing well, and moreover, the tri-series is in the UAE, so I definitely feel we will go to the final. Pakistan is not an easy side, and the UAE is also doing well of late. I strongly feel the result will be on a positive note.

The 4/20 against Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024. I can’t forget that particular day of my career. Also, in 2015-16, I won the match against Zimbabwe after making a comeback in the fifth ODI of the series, which was a memorable knock (Naib scored 82* off 68 in that game as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by two wickets, won the ODI series 3-2).

A lot of people ask me this wherever I go. I was watching the highlights today as well. I had sent it to Rashid Khan too. When you represent your country, at the end of the day, the result is what matters the most. Whatever I did on the field that day, my aim was to take the nation to the semi-final. A lot of people enjoyed the incident. Whatever was done that day, it was for the team and country.

I would love to defeat both sides. But we really enjoy playing against India as our last T20I ended in a tie. As we have defeated Pakistan already, our next target would be India. We always enjoy playing against India in India, as the love shown by the crowd is always impressive.

Honestly, no. We have a lot of young players coming up. I feel the focus should be on those youngsters. Players like Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran will take Afghanistan cricket forward. I feel it’s not my time to lead the team now.

I would like to go with the left-right opening combination; Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings. Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, and Hardik Pandya are the next to occupy my XI.

Rashid Khan will captain my side. One player between Azmatullah Omarzai and Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. Jasprit Bumrah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Naveen-ul-Haq are other players part of my all-time XI.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, Hardik Pandya, Azmatullah Omarzai/Ravindra Jadeja, Rashid Khan (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq

Who’s more difficult to face in the nets — Rashid Khan or Mujeeb Ur Rahman?

If not a cricketer, what would Gulbadin Naib be doing today?

Describe these teammates in one word: Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad and Gulbadin Naib

Rashid Khan: MagicianMohammad Nabi: PresidentRahmanullah Gurbaz: UnstoppableNoor Ahmad: KohinoorGulbadin Naib: Actor