Mustafizur Rahman Cleared to Join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025 But Only for a Brief Stint

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has officially received a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to participate in the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. He will turn out for the Delhi Capitals, but only for a short window and not beyond the league stage.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY: 

ONLY THREE MATCHES APPROVED

According to ESPNCricinfo, the BCB has allowed Mustafizur to participate in the IPL for just six days — from May 18 to May 24 — meaning he will be eligible to play only the final three league matches for Delhi Capitals. However, he will not be available for the playoffs if the team qualifies.

Delhi Capitals are currently in a tight race for a playoff spot, placed fifth in the table with 13 points from 11 games. Their remaining league fixtures are scheduled against Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings.

UNCERTAINTY AROUND FIRST GAME

Mustafizur is expected to feature in Bangladesh’s first T20I against the UAE this Saturday before flying to India. However, his availability for Delhi's upcoming clash against Gujarat Titans on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium remains uncertain due to the tight travel schedule.

FROM CONFUSION TO CLARITY

Earlier in the week, Mustafizur was named as a replacement for Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who opted out of the tournament due to personal reasons. The announcement was initially met with confusion, as BCB had claimed they hadn’t received any NOC request from the pacer. That has now been resolved with official clearance granted.

KEY REINFORCEMENTS AND MAJOR EXIT

Delhi Capitals will be bolstered by the return of South African duo Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs, both of whom have rejoined the squad for the final phase of the tournament.

However, the franchise suffered a major setback with Mitchell Starc opting out of the rest of the IPL season. The Australian left-arm quick has chosen to focus on preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. Starc has been a crucial part of Delhi’s campaign, picking up 14 wickets in 11 games — the most by any DC bowler this season.

MUSTAFIZUR’S IPL RECORD AND PAYCHECK

Mustafizur brings valuable experience and skill to the Delhi squad. He has featured in 57 IPL matches so far, with 61 wickets to his name. In T20 Internationals, he has played 106 matches for Bangladesh, claiming 132 wickets.

He was signed by Delhi Capitals for a sum of INR 6 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 season.

FIXTURE UPDATE: DC vs PUNJAB KINGS TO BE PLAYED IN JAIPUR

Meanwhile, the previously interrupted match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings — initially halted midway in Dharamsala due to security concerns — has been rescheduled. The match will now be completed in Jaipur.