3 Zimbabwean cricketers who played in IPL before Blessing Muzarabani

Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years has given many players a chance to showcase their skills and talents. Indian and overseas players have made their name in the biggest franchise cricket league. Apart from the big-name international teams, IPL has also seen players from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Netherlands make their presence felt in the league. 

Zimbabwe which in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s had seen a steady decline in their cricketing fortunes post 2005. Once IPL began in 2008, Zimbabwe are one of the sides that haven’t seen many of their stars play in the biggest T20 league in the world. That is set to change with Blessing Muzarabani having been signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

The 28-year-old is one of the rare Zimbabwean bowlers who can bowl at good speeds and can touch 140 KPH. Muzarabani replaced Lungi Ngidi with the latter being picked for the World Test Championship finals. The Zimbabwean pacer will be playing the only Test against England which begins on May 22 and could be available for the final league match against Lucknow Super Giants. Muzarabani’s signing is also a great boost for RCB ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. 

Here are the three Zimbabwean cricketers to have played IPL 

3- Ray Price – Mumbai Indians -2011

Veteran Zimbabwean player Ray Price made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the 2011 season. The left-arm spinner played just one game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens stadium. Price bowled just three overs and gave away 33 runs without picking a wicket. This was the only game Price got to play in the league before being ignored for rest of the games. 

2- Tatenda Taibu – Kolkata Knight Riders -2008

Former Zimbabwean skipper Tatenda Taibu became the first player from his country to make his debut in the IPL. Taibu was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the inaugural edition in 2008. Taibu, played three games scoring 31 runs with his best of 15 coming in his debut game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home. The Zimbabwean star eventually faded from public memory after his international retirement in 2012 before an eventual return to domestic cricket. 

1- Sikandar Raza – Punjab Kings – 2023 and 2024

Only Zimbabwean to have played more than five games in the IPL is the veteran star Sikandar Raza. The right-handed batter played total of nine games for Punjab Kings spread across two season. Raza scored a total of 182 runs with a best of 57 with a strike rate of 133 and average of 26. With the ball, Raza picked just three wickets before seeing his IPL stint end with his final game against SRH where he scored 28 with the bat. Raza’s best moment came in the 2023 when the Zimbabwean hit three runs off the last ball to help his side beat Chennai Super Kings.