Akash Madhwal, born November 25, 1993 in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, is an Indian cricketer known for his quick-arm action and turn off the pitch. Originally from Dungra village, his family settled in Roorkee due to his father’s army career.
Madhwal shares hometown roots with Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who also hails from Uttarakhand. After graduating college in Roorkee with a civil engineering degree, Madhwal pursued cricket professionally.
On May 24, 2023, he recorded IPL history’s best bowling figures by an uncapped player. In the playoffs against Lucknow Super Giants, Madhwal took a five-wicket haul while conceding just five runs, earning Player of the Match honors.
His ability to generate rapid turn and skid from his bowling action has brought Madhwal recognition on the domestic circuit as he aims to represent India.
Early Career as a Cricketer
After earning a civil engineering degree, Akash Madhwal chose to pursue cricket professionally instead of an engineering career. From an early age, he honed his yorker bowling technique while playing tennis ball cricket in Uttarakhand. This allowed him to develop excellent control delivering yorkers.
Madhwal first competed in organized cricket aged 24, when called for Uttarakhand Cricket Association trials after their BCCI affiliation in 2018.
In 2019, Uttarakhand coach Wasim Jaffer recognized Madhwal’s potential and advised him to transition to red ball cricket. Jaffer selected Madhwal for the state team, where current coach Manish Jha further refined his talents.
During his formative years, Madhwal also trained under Avtar Singh, who previously coached fellow Uttarakhand native Rishabh Pant.
Through his state opportunities starting in his mid-20s, Madhwal was able to progress from tennis ball matches to high-level competitive cricket and hone his craft. His prodigious yorker ability and work ethic have enabled his rise.
Akash Madhwal’s Domestic Cricket Career
Madhwal’s domestic debut came in November 2019 when he represented Uttarakhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament.
He went on to make his first-class debut in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy in December 2019. In February 2021, Madhwal played his first List A match for Uttarakhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Ahead of the 2023 domestic season, Madhwal was appointed captain of Uttarakhand’s T20 team, showing his leadership development.
Akash Madhwal’s Cricket Career in IPL
In the 2021 IPL, Madhwal served as a net bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore to help prepare their batsmen. He gained further IPL exposure in 2022, joining defending champions Mumbai Indians as a net bowler initially. After an injury to Suryakumar Yadav, Madhwal was drafted into their full squad for the season but did not make an appearance.
Despite not playing yet, these IPL stints allowed Madhwal to gain experience in the elite T20 league and practice against top competition. As he continues rising domestically, an IPL debut could be on the horizon.
Akash Madhwal’s Stellar 2023 IPL Season: A Mark of Excellence
In the 2023 Indian Premier League, Akash Madhwal began on the sidelines for the Mumbai Indians. However, when presented with the opportunity against Punjab Kings at Mohali, Madhwal seized it, marking both his IPL debut and his impactful entrance into the league.
Despite a challenging start, where he gave away 37 runs in his initial 3 overs without claiming a wicket, Madhwal showcased his expertise during the final over of Punjab Kings’ innings. This display marked him as the first player from Uttarakhand to participate in the Indian Premier League.
Following his placement in the Mumbai Indians squad over Arjun Tendulkar, Madhwal quickly became a trusted bowler for the team, regularly delivering breakthroughs during crucial moments in matches throughout the 2023 IPL. His remarkable bowling, reminiscent of Jasprit Bumrah’s style, especially his consistent yorkers, gained attention.
Madhwal’s inclusion by the Mumbai Indians scouting network, renowned for identifying and nurturing young talent, paid off. Throughout the 2023 season, he solidified his position as a key player for the Mumbai Indians, especially during powerplay and death overs, notably in the absence of stalwarts like Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah.
In a decisive league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Madhwal shone brightly, recording figures of 4/37. Although Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a formidable total, Mumbai Indians managed to chase it down, thanks in part to a century by Cameron Green. Madhwal’s exceptional performance in this match secured Mumbai Indians’ spot in the playoffs.
On 24 May 2023, during the eliminator match against the Lucknow Super Giants, Madhwal outdid himself, registering an impressive 5/5 in just 3.3 overs, restricting the opposition to a mere 101 runs in response to Mumbai’s target of 183.
This record-breaking performance surpassed Doug Bollinger’s 2010 record for Chennai Super Kings and eclipsed Ankit Rajpoot’s record for the best figures by an uncapped player in the IPL.
Remarkably, Madhwal also became the first player to claim five wickets in an IPL playoff match.
Matching the prowess of the legendary Anil Kumble, Madhwal tied the record for the most economical five-wicket haul in the IPL.
This feat against the Lucknow Super Giants not only marked his maiden five-wicket achievement in both the IPL and T20 cricket but also played a pivotal role in propelling the Mumbai Indians to the Qualifier 2, keeping their hopes alive for an IPL final berth.
