Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad on Saturday has brought together cricket and politics in a way few IPL stories do. Bought for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction ahead of the 2026 season, the left-arm pacer was released within weeks after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the franchise to release him, citing “recent developments” amid growing political tensions between India and Bangladesh.KKR confirmed that the release was carried out “following due process” and that the franchise can ask for a replacement player as per IPL regulations.SRK controversyMore than two weeks after the auction, political leaders on Friday criticised KKR and its co-owner Shah Rukh Khan for “bringing in a Bangladeshi player”.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sangeet Som had called the actor “a traitor”, adding that the pacer would not be allowed to play in the upcoming season of the league.“Hum daave ke saath keh rahe hain ki aise khiladiyon ko yahan khelne nahi diya jaayega. Shah Rukh Khan jaise gaddaron ko yeh samajh lena chahiye ki aap jis tarah desh ke saath gaddari kar rahe hain, agar aap aaj is mukaam par pahunche hain toh is desh ke logon ki wajah se pahunche hain. (We say this with certainty that such players will not be allowed to play here. Traitors like Shah Rukh Khan should understand that if you have reached this position today, it is because of the people of this country),” he said.Old wounds, old imagesThe backlash was not solely contemporary. Mustafizur has remained part of Indian cricketing memory since his debut ODI series against India at home in 2015, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets in three matches, helping the hosts claim the series 2-1.Prothom Alo, a Bangladeshi newspaper, had published a satirical mock advertisement with an image that showed seven Indian cricketers – MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan and R Ashwin – with half-shaven heads, alongside Mustafizur holding a cutter, a visual pun on the left-arm pacer’s off-cutters that had troubled India’s batting. The Indian cricketers were seen holding a banner, written in Bengali, that translated to, ‘We have used it. You can use it too’. The mock ad was widely circulated on social media at the time and attracted criticism for being disrespectful.Story continues below this ad Mustafizur Rahman has made 60 appearances in the IPL. (BCCI Photo)What happened at the auction?At the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, Mustafizur was bought by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore, and he became the most expensive Bangladeshi player ever purchased in the tournament’s history. The pacer entered the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore, and Delhi Capitals (DC) opened the bidding, followed closely by Chennai Super Kings (CSK).DC and CSK remained in a fierce contest as the bid went past Rs 5 crore. KKR, who had entered the auction with the highest purse of Rs 64.30 crore, jumped in at the Rs 5.40 crore mark. CSK pushed the bid towards Rs 9 crore but KKR held firm and got the player for Rs 9.20 crore.Also Read | Like with Pakistan, India-Bangladesh cricket ties could snap after BCCI asks IPL franchise Shahrukh Khan’s KKR to eject Mustafizur Rahman from teamThe pacer has played for several IPL franchises, including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), CSK and DC. He won the league with SRH in his debut season in 2016 and has overall taken 65 wickets in 60 IPL matches at an economy rate of 8.13.Why are left-arm bowlers in high demand in IPLMustafizur’s price at the auction was not an isolated case. In recent IPL seasons, left-arm pacers such as Mitchell Starc (bought by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore in the 2024 auction) and Trent Boult (bought by MI for Rs 12.50 crore at the 2025 auction) have also attracted big money.Story continues below this adIn T20 cricket, left-arm bowlers are prized for the angles they create against right-handed batters, particularly in the powerplay and at the death. The ability to move the ball across the batter, combined with the skill to vary pace, makes them a significant asset on any side. Mustafizur’s cutters and slower balls add another layer to that value, allowing him to operate effectively even without extreme pace.What next?What happens next will depend as much on diplomacy as on cricket. For KKR, the immediate task is to find a replacement who can fill the gap left by Mustafizur’s skill set within IPL regulations.