Blessing Muzarabani: Zimbabwe’s towering X-factor

On the eve of Zimbabwe’s Super Eight clash against the West Indies at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the spotlight falls on a fast bowler whose reputation for the big stage is on the rise.

At 6ft 8in (2.03m), Zimbabwe pace ace Blessing Muzarabani is impossible to miss. But it is not just his height that has defined his ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign -- it is the control, intelligence and hunger with which he has dismantled some of the game’s most powerful batting line-ups.

With nine wickets in three group-stage matches at an economy rate of 5.91, Muzarabani has spearheaded Zimbabwe’s stunning run. Victories over Australia and Sri Lanka were not flukes; they were statements. In the historic win against Australia, he produced a masterclass, claiming 4 for 17 with a probing back-of-a-length plan that lured batters into mistimed pulls and cramped strokes.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes the timing of his form could have reshaped franchise cricket economics.

“Blessing Muzarabani is an exceptional bowler,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel. “He bowls in every phase — with the new ball and the old. If the Indian Premier League auction were held after this T20 World Cup, with the way he is bowling now, he would have fetched at least INR 20 crores.”

It is a bold claim, but not unreasonable. The IPL has long prized height, pace and versatility -- qualities Muzarabani possesses in abundance.

West Indies coach Daren Sammy is well aware of the threat.

“We plan for every single player. Not only him. He’s an X-factor,” Sammy said ahead of the clash. “You’ve got to respect the opposition.”

That respect has been earned. Muzarabani’s journey from the high-density suburb of Highfields in Harare to global prominence is rooted in resilience. Raised by his grandmother and growing up with limited resources, he began with little more than a pair of boots and unwavering support from home. Coaches recall a shy, humble teenager whose work ethic spoke louder than his words.

His breakthrough came in 2017 when he toured England with the Rising Stars Academy under Tatenda Taibu. County observers took note, and Surrey coach Alec Stewart was reportedly interested. But it was a Kolpak deal with Northamptonshire -- pausing his international career to play as a local in county cricket -- that took him to England, where he refined his craft in seaming conditions.

There, he learned to use his height not just for bounce but for control -- hitting hard lengths, maintaining tight lines and forcing errors. When Brexit ended Kolpak contracts in 2020, Muzarabani returned home a more complete bowler.

His second coming was emphatic. He claimed a maiden ODI five-for and famously delivered 2 for 2 in a Super Over against Pakistan in 2020. Franchise stints followed, with Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, a net-bowling role with Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, and appearances in other global T20 competitions.

Yet it is this World Cup that has elevated him into a different conversation. Among pace bowlers with at least 50 overs this season, he boasts one of the best economy rates in T20 cricket. His method is disciplined rather than dramatic: minimal width, relentless lengths and steep bounce that unsettles even accomplished hitters.

Teammates describe him as grounded and focused on preparation over praise. Even as he sits near the top of the tournament’s wicket charts, his attention remains on adapting to Indian conditions and serving the team.

Zimbabwe have long searched for a fast-bowling talisman to follow Heath Streak. In Blessing Muzarabani, they may have found not just a successor, but a source of resurgence.

Under the lights at Wankhede, West Indies will attempt to blunt his edge. But if the group stage proved anything, it is this: when Muzarabani finds his rhythm, Zimbabwe rise with him.