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Munaf Patel Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 6, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth12 July 1983

Age38 (as of 2021)

BirthplaceIkhar village, Bharuch, Gujarat

ProfessionCricketer (Bowler)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseTaslima Patel

FamilyFather - Musa Patel; Mother - Saeeda Patel; Sister - Noorjahan Patel

Munaf Patel Biography

Lanky right‑arm medium‑fast bowler from Ikhar village in Gujarat, Munaf Musa Patel rose from modest beginnings to represent India across formats and play a

Early life and background
Munaf Musa Patel was born on 12 July 1983 in Ikhar village, Bharuch district, Gujarat. Raised in a farming household, his father Musa Patel worked as a farmer and his mother Saeeda Patel was a homemaker. The family environment forced him to shoulder responsibilities early; he left formal schooling for a period to help with household expenses and worked seasonally in a marble factory packing export tiles.

Cricket became his pathway out of that life. A childhood friend, Yusuf Pathan, helped him connect to a cricket club in Baroda and even bought him his first proper shoes. That early encouragement, plus training at the MRF Pace Foundation and exposure at domestic levels, set the course for a professional career. He kept close ties to his village throughout his playing days and built a house there rather than relocate permanently to a city.

Career
Munaf is a right‑hand batsman and a right‑arm medium‑fast bowler whose height and rhythmic run‑up helped him generate pace, execute yorkers and move the ball off the seam. He is commonly nicknamed Munna and earned sobriquets such as the Ikhar Express. His preferred delivery was the leg cutter.

He rose through the domestic ranks with spells for Gujarat, Baroda, Maharashtra and Mumbai, and represented various composite teams including West Zone, India A, India Blue/Red/Green, and the Indian Board President’s XI. A strong performance in a Board President’s XI tour match against England in 2005, where he took ten wickets, helped accelerate his progress.

Munaf made his Test debut for India on 9 March 2006 against England at Mohali, and his ODI debut on 3 April 2006 against England in Margao. He premiered in T20 Internationals on 9 January 2011 against South Africa in Durban. His international career included notable spells in 2006, when he produced a seven‑wicket match haul in a Test against England after earning selection from domestic form. He also delivered important performances in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, including a tense closing over in India’s tied match with England on 27 February 2011.

In the Indian Premier League, Munaf was an early member of the Rajasthan Royals for the first two seasons and later joined Mumbai Indians for multiple seasons. He went unsold at the 2014 auction but returned to IPL action when Gujarat Lions bought him in the 2017 edition for INR 30 lakhs. He also had stints in other T20 competitions such as the Lanka Premier League with Kandy Tuskers and featured for teams like Rajputs in the T10 league and Indian Legends in exhibition events.

Throughout his career he worked with coaches including Chandrakant Pandit and received early mentorship from figures at the MRF Pace Foundation, where former fast bowlers took an interest in his development.

Style and challenges
Munaf’s tall frame (around 1.90 m / 6'3") and ability to swing the ball both ways made him a useful seam option. He was particularly noted for his yorkers and his capacity to maintain line and length. Injuries were a recurring issue in his career; these led to scrutiny and to a period of biomechanical analysis at the Australian Institute of Sport to refine his action and reduce injury risk.

Public profile
Munaf married Taslima in 2010; the couple have children. He is known to enjoy horse riding as a hobby and has maintained a modest lifestyle focused on family and his home village. His car collection has included a Jaguar XF.

Like many athletes, Munaf has been the subject of controversy at various points. The licensed material records several legal and public incidents reported over the years, including investigations and allegations that were publicly noted. Munaf has addressed some of these matters in interviews and statements.

Latest updates
After active IPL seasons and domestic commitments, Munaf continued to be involved in cricket through exhibition and veteran events such as Indian Legends, while also appearing in franchise T20 competitions outside India. His later playing years included involvement with Gujarat Lions in the IPL and appearances in other short‑format leagues.

Personal details
Physically, Munaf is listed at about 70 kg (155 lbs) with hazel eyes and natural black hair. He has worn the number 13 jersey for India and in IPL competition. He credits early supporters and coaches, and has spoken about the support he received from Maharashtra and specific mentors during his transition from a raw fast‑bowling prospect to an international fast‑medium bowler.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Munaf Patel, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Gujarat Lions (IPL)

Bought by Gujarat Lions for INR 30 Lakhs for the tenth IPL season; also played for Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in earlier IPL editions.

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Test debut for India on 9 March 2006 against England (Mohali)
  2. ODI debut on 3 April 2006 against England (Margao)
  3. T20I debut on 9 January 2011 against South Africa (Durban)
  4. Ten wickets in a Board President’s XI tour match against England (2005)
  5. Key contribution in India’s tied 2011 World Cup match vs England
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Munaf Patel born?

Munaf Patel was born on 12 July 1983.

What is Munaf Patel known for?

Munaf Patel is known for cricketer (Bowler).

What is Munaf Patel’s marital status?

Munaf Patel's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Munaf Patel married to?

Munaf Patel is publicly listed as married to Taslima Patel.