Dhawal Kulkarni is an Indian cricketer who was born on December 10, 1988, in Bombay, now Mumbai. He’s a right-arm medium pace bowler who bats right-handed at the bottom of the batting order.
Career
Domestic Career
Kulkarni first gained prominence when playing for the Mumbai Under-17 team in the 2005-06 Vijay Merchant Trophy. His outstanding results continued at the Under-19 level, earning him a place in the India Under-19 squad that toured Sri Lanka in 2007. His strong showings in Sri Lanka earned him a place in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad. In his first season, he took 42 wickets and was the tournament’s most prolific bowler.
During the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season, Kulkarni was instrumental in Mumbai’s 40th title victory. In the Ranji Trophy Semi-final of the 2012-13 season, Dhawal Kulkarni took 5/33 against the Services. He then repeated the feat in the finals against Saurashtra, taking 4/24 and 5/32 in the first and second innings, respectively, to dismiss them for 148 and 82 runs. He was given a place in the India A squad in 2014 as a result of his success in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season.
IPL Career
Since the beginning of the Indian Premier League in 2008, Dhawal Kulkarni has been a member of the Mumbai Indians. In the 2014 IPL auctions, he was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals. Following the franchise’s suspension in 2016, he was selected in the subsequent auction by the Gujarat Lions. Kulkarni was a standout performer for the Gujarat Lions in their inaugural season in 2016. He played in all 14 league games, taking 18 wickets with a best of 4/14.
He was not retained by the returning Rajasthan Royals franchise in the 2018 IPL Player Retention Ceremony, but he did play for them in the 2019 season. The 31-year-old was purchased from the Rajasthan Royals in a trade window ahead of IPL 2020, and will be donning the blue-golden once more in the dusty tracks of UAE.
Dhawal has featured in 90 IPL matches, taking 86 wickets at a strike rate of 20.29, and will be looking to replicate his performance in the tournament.
International Career
In 2014, Dhawal Kulkarni made his ODI debut for India against England at Edgbaston. In his seven overs, he had figures of 0/35. The next game, he was benched. He was also left out of the next ODI series against the West Indies at home. Kulkarni was never given the chance to play for India because the pace battery included Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Ishant Sharma. In his career, Kulkarni has only played 12 games and taken 19 wickets.
T20I Career
In 2016, Kulkarni made his India T20I debut against Zimbabwe in Harare. In his four overs, he took the lone wicket of Graeme Cremer. He also bowled in the next T20I against Zimbabwe, picking up 2/23 in four overs. Those two matches are also his only appearances for India in the shortest version of the game.
Background
Dhawal Kulkarni was born in Chunabhatti, Maharashtra, on December 10, 1998, to Sunil and Pramila Kulkarni. Over the years, the skiddy pacer has risen through the ranks thanks to his unwavering dedication and strong work ethic.