Watch: Star Afghan cricketer celebrates his birthday with Mumbai Indians squad before Indian Premier League 2026

Hardik Pandya and the Mumbai Indians squad shared a joyful moment as they celebrated the birthday of young Afghan player Allah Ghazanfar during their IPL 2026 camp. The celebration reflected the positive mood inside the team ahead of the new season.

The special moment took place during the team’s training period, where players and staff came together to mark the occasion. The dressing room atmosphere looked relaxed and cheerful, showing strong bonding among teammates before the tournament began.

Ghazanfar, one of the promising young talents in the squad, is part of the Mumbai Indians’ preparations for IPL 2026. Such celebrations highlight the team’s unity and support for new players as they gear up for the upcoming season.

Watch the special moment here:

Allah Ghazanfar Reacts Strongly After Deadly Kabul Air Strikes

At least 400 people were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, earlier this week after reported air strikes by Pakistan. The attack took place around 9:00 pm on Monday, and nearly 250 people were also injured, according to local media reports. The incident has raised serious concerns across the region.

Following the attack, several Afghan cricketers reacted strongly. Among them, young spinner Allah Ghazanfar shared an emotional message, saying, "I don't know what they're trying to prove. They come and target ordinary people, and we simply cannot accept this. Afghanistan cannot accept this."

He also warned about the possible consequences, stating, "Everyone knows Afghanistan's history. If that history repeats itself, it will be very bad for Pakistan."

Speaking about global support, he added, "India is our close friend. We want to engage with them, to talk about these issues, so that things like this don't happen. This is our request to other countries, too. This is not good for the people. Right now, the world is going through many challenges, and this is not good for anyone."

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Mumbai Indians Begin IPL 2026 Preparations

Meanwhile, the five-time champions began their training camp on March 16, with several players joining in the first phase of the Indian Premier League 2026. The initial group included players like Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, and others. The team is focusing on building combinations and improving match readiness ahead of the new season.

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult has also joined the camp and started training with the squad. Along with him, senior players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah were seen practising under the guidance of coaches Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga.

Ghazanfar, who was bought by the Mumbai Indians for ₹4.8 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, is also part of the squad and is preparing for his role in the tournament.

Mumbai Indians Fixtures for IPL 2026

Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at home on March 29. After that, they will face the Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in away matches on April 4 and April 7. They will then return home to play against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 12, which will be their final match of Phase 1.

As the season approaches, the Hardik Pandya-led team are focusing on strong preparation, while also showing unity and support within the team during both difficult and positive moments.

Mumbai Indians Squad for IPL 2026

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Sherfane Rutherford, Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, Mohammad Izhar, Allah Ghazanfar, Jasprit Bumrah.