Shahbaz Ahamad
Role: All-rounder (Left-arm Orthodox Bowler, Left-hand Batsman)
DOB: 11 December 1994
IPL Team (2026): Unsold
Base Price: N/A (Last Traded Value: 2.4 Crore INR)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 44 | 30 | 9 | 342 | 45 | 16.28 | 289 | 118.33 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 13 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 4.00 | 10 | 120.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 12 | 10.50 | 37 | 113.51 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 219 | 45 | 31.28 | 176 | 124.43 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 5 |
| 2021 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 68 | 21 | 11.33 | 64 | 106.25 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 2 | 50.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 44 | 294 | 434 | 12 | 3/7 | 36.16 | 8.85 | 24.50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 18 | 30 | 0 | – | – | 10.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 42 | 64 | 1 | 1/15 | 64.00 | 9.14 | 42.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 102 | 162 | 4 | 2/26 | 40.50 | 9.52 | 25.50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 11 | 120 | 160 | 7 | 3/7 | 22.85 | 8.00 | 17.14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 0 | – | – | 9.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Shahbaz Ahamad
Hailing from Mewat, Haryana, but representing Bengal in domestic cricket, Shahbaz Ahamad is a quintessential modern-day T20 all-rounder. A crafty left-arm orthodox spinner and a hard-hitting left-handed batsman, Shahbaz brings a dynamic edge to any squad. His journey into the IPL began in 2020 when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spotted his potential, picking him up for his base price of 20 lakhs. While his debut season was quiet, it was merely the calm before the storm.
Shahbaz truly announced his arrival in the 2021 season, particularly with a game-changing spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Defending a paltry 149, RCB were in trouble until Shahbaz ripped through the SRH middle order, snaring three wickets in a single over – including Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, and Abdul Samad – turning the match on its head and securing a famous victory. This performance showcased his ability to deliver under pressure and exploit turning conditions.
His playing style is characterized by his intelligent bowling, often varying pace and trajectory to outfox batsmen, especially right-handers. With the bat, he’s known for his fearless approach, capable of clearing boundaries and providing crucial impetus in the lower middle order. He’s also an agile fielder, making him a complete package. While his primary role has often been with the ball, his batting contributions, particularly in 2022, proved his all-round credentials, making him a valuable asset in the shortest format.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Shahbaz Ahamad’s IPL career has seen him don the colours of three franchises, navigating through auctions and trades:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (2020-2023): Shahbaz began his IPL journey with RCB, who acquired him for his base price of 20 lakhs in the 2020 auction. After a quiet debut season, he emerged as a crucial all-rounder in 2021 and 2022. His impactful performances led RCB to buy him back in the 2022 mega-auction for a significant 2.4 crore INR, highlighting his increased value. He played a key role in their playoff campaigns during this period, particularly with his bowling in 2021 and batting in 2022.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (2024): Ahead of the 2024 season, Shahbaz was traded by RCB to Sunrisers Hyderabad for a sum of 2.4 crore INR. This move was part of a strategic exchange, with Mayank Dagar moving the other way. However, his stint with SRH was brief.
- Delhi Capitals (2024): In a subsequent trade before the 2024 season even began, Shahbaz was moved from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Delhi Capitals, again for 2.4 crore INR, with Priyam Garg going to SRH. He represented DC in the 2024 season, but his opportunities and impact were limited.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
Shahbaz Ahamad, despite recent dips in form, remains a player with specific betting value when conditions align. His primary strength lies in his left-arm orthodox spin, particularly against right-hand heavy batting lineups. On pitches offering even a hint of turn, Shahbaz can be a shrewd bet for ‘most wickets’ or ‘over/under wickets’ props, especially in the middle overs where he’s adept at breaking partnerships.
His batting, though inconsistent, has shown flashes of brilliance. He’s a decent punt for ‘total runs’ or ‘sixes hit’ in scenarios where his team needs quick runs from the lower order, particularly if he gets enough balls. However, his recent IPL seasons (2023, 2024) have seen a reduced impact with both bat and ball, leading to fewer opportunities and lower fantasy points. Bettors should exercise caution and primarily consider him when playing on slow, turning tracks or when his team is facing a top-heavy right-handed batting order.
Strengths: Crafty left-arm spin, effective against right-handers, capable of quick-fire batting, agile fielder. Thrives on turning tracks and larger boundaries.
Weaknesses: Can be expensive on flat pitches, inconsistent batting output, limited role in recent seasons. Vulnerable against strong left-hand batsmen.
When to Bet On: Matches on slow, turning surfaces; ‘wicket-taker’ props against teams with multiple right-handed top-order batsmen; ‘total runs’ if batting lower down and a collapse has occurred, allowing him more time.
When to Bet Against: Flat, high-scoring pitches; ‘economy rate’ props on small grounds; ‘total runs’ if batting very low or in a team with a strong top order where he might not get many balls.
Key Records & Milestones
- Game-Changing Over: Took 3 wickets in a single over (Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Abdul Samad) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021, turning a losing position into a winning one for RCB.
- Best Bowling Figures: Recorded his career-best IPL bowling figures of 3/7 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021.
- Highest Score: Registered his highest IPL score of 45 runs against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022, showcasing his batting prowess.
- Consistent All-Rounder: One of the few uncapped Indian all-rounders to be consistently retained/bought back for significant sums by franchises (RCB, SRH, DC) over multiple seasons.
IPL Season Highlights
Shahbaz Ahamad’s IPL journey has been marked by moments of brilliance, particularly in his earlier seasons:
- IPL 2021 (RCB): This was his breakthrough season with the ball. Beyond his sensational 3/7 against SRH, he picked up 7 wickets at an impressive average of 22.85 and an economy of 8.00. He proved to be a reliable option for Virat Kohli in the middle overs, often providing crucial breakthroughs.
- IPL 2022 (RCB): Shahbaz showcased his batting potential in this season, scoring 219 runs at a healthy average of 31.28 and a strike rate of 124.43. His knock of 45 against Rajasthan Royals was a standout, helping RCB post a competitive total. He consistently provided impetus with the bat, often playing crucial cameos in the lower middle order.
- Recent Form (2023 & 2024): The last two seasons have seen a decline in his impact. In IPL 2023 for RCB, he managed only 42 runs and 1 wicket across 10 matches. For Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, his role was further diminished, playing only 5 matches and contributing just 12 runs with no wickets, reflecting a challenging period for the all-rounder.