Allah Ghazanfar sets Mumbai Indians record for most Powerplay wickets by a spinner in a single IPL season

Key facts

• Allah Ghazanfar dismissed Josh Inglis for 13 runs off five balls in the third over of MI vs LSG on May 4, 2026.
• Ghazanfar's sixth powerplay wicket this season surpassed Harbhajan Singh's record of five wickets in IPL 2011.
• Ghazanfar is Mumbai Indians' highest wicket-taker in IPL 2026.
• Jasprit Bumrah holds the overall MI record for most powerplay wickets with 40.
• LSG posted 228/5, with Nicholas Pooran scoring 63 off 20 balls including eight sixes.
• Suryakumar Yadav captained MI in place of Hardik Pandya, who was out with viral fever.

Milestone in the middle of a desperate chase

Mumbai Indians spinner Allah Ghazanfar claimed a slice of franchise history on Monday evening, becoming the Mumbai Indians bowler with the most wickets in the powerplay in a single Indian Premier League season. The 20-year-old Afghan dismissed Lucknow Super Giants opener Josh Inglis in the third over at Wankhede Stadium, his sixth powerplay scalp of IPL 2026. That tally pushed him past Harbhajan Singh, who had taken five powerplay wickets for Mumbai in the 2011 edition. Ghazanfar, already Mumbai's leading wicket-taker this season, delivered the breakthrough with a carrom ball that deceived Inglis into a mistimed pull.

A carrom ball that broke the opening stand

Inglis, making his IPL debut, had started aggressively, hitting two boundaries off Ghazanfar earlier in the same over. The first was a short ball pulled over deep mid-wicket; the second was sliced to backward point. But Ghazanfar's carrom ball, not short enough for the pull, induced a top edge as Inglis tried to go straight over mid-on. Suryakumar Yadav, captaining the side in Hardik Pandya's absence due to viral fever, ran back from mid-on and held a well-judged catch. Inglis fell for 13 off five balls, but LSG's innings did not stall.

LSG's batting firepower and Mumbai's fightback

Despite the early wicket, Lucknow Super Giants raced to 123 for one in eight overs. Nicholas Pooran smashed 63 off 20 balls, reaching his fifty in just 16 deliveries and hitting eight sixes. Mitchell Marsh added 44, and the pair put the Mumbai attack under severe pressure. Corbin Bosch pulled things back with two quick wickets, triggering a collapse to 160 for four. Rishabh Pant fell cheaply again, but Himmat Singh (40 not out) and Aiden Markram (31 not out) steadied the innings with an unbeaten stand, lifting LSG to 228 for five.

Context of the contest: wooden spoon stakes

The match carried high stakes for both teams, who entered the fixture occupying the bottom two places on the points table. A loss would all but extinguish their slim playoff hopes. Mumbai Indians, having lost the toss, were asked to bowl first on a surface expected to improve under lights with dew. Suryakumar Yadav, standing in as captain, opted to bowl first, a decision influenced by the anticipated dew. The Mumbai lineup also included Will Jacks, introduced as an additional bowling option in the powerplay after Marsh targeted Bumrah.

Ghazanfar's record in the broader MI powerplay pantheon

While Ghazanfar now holds the spinner-specific record, the overall MI powerplay wicket leader remains Jasprit Bumrah with 40 wickets. Bumrah, who has not been at his fluent best this season, is followed by Lasith Malinga (37), Trent Boult (31), and Mitchell McClenaghan (31), all tied for third. Ghazanfar's six wickets in the powerplay this season mark a significant achievement for a spinner in a format where pace bowlers traditionally dominate the early overs. His ability to extract turn and deceive batters with variations has made him a key weapon for Mumbai.

What the milestone means for Mumbai's season

Ghazanfar's record comes during a difficult campaign for Mumbai Indians, who have struggled for consistency. The team's reliance on the Afghan spinner reflects both his individual form and the broader challenges faced by the bowling unit. With the playoff race tightening, every individual performance carries added weight. Ghazanfar's achievement, while personal, also serves as a reminder of the talent that Mumbai have invested in, even as the team fights to stay alive in the tournament.

The bottom line

• Allah Ghazanfar now holds the Mumbai Indians record for most powerplay wickets by a spinner in a single IPL season, with six.
• He surpassed Harbhajan Singh's 2011 mark of five powerplay wickets.
• Ghazanfar dismissed Josh Inglis with a carrom ball on May 4, 2026, at Wankhede Stadium.
• LSG scored 228/5, with Nicholas Pooran's 63 off 20 balls the standout innings.
• Mumbai Indians, captained by Suryakumar Yadav in Hardik Pandya's absence, are fighting to keep playoff hopes alive from bottom of the table.