Shivam Mavi, a young fast bowler, is proof that India has progressed in producing not only quality medium-pace and spin bowlers, but also extreme pace bowlers who can consistently clock 140+ clicks and possess the required skill set to succeed on the world stage.
Career
Mavi’s career began at a young age, when he was picked to play for the Delhi Under-14 side. Despite his outstanding performance for the U14 team, he was rejected from the Under-16 squad, which devastated him.
Mavi, on the other hand, took the rejection in stride and moved to Greater Noida, where he entered the Delhi Wanderers Cricket Academy. Senior players like Anureet Singh and Parvinder Awana were in his company there, which aided his growth.
As studying at the National Cricket Academy camp, Shivam Mavi captured the eye of head coach Rahul Dravid. On the 6th of February 2017, he made his debut for the Under-19 national team, featuring against England’s U-19 team in the 4th ODI of the latter’s tour of India. In his five overs, the 5 ft 9 right-hand pace bowler took two wickets while conceding 36 runs, putting in an excellent display. After that, he was named to the U-19 squad, which was set to travel to New Zealand for the 2018 U-19 World Cup.
On August 27, 2018, Shivam Mavi made his List A debut for India A against South Africa A in the Quadrangular Series. Mavi’s hat-trick for Uttar Pradesh versus Saurashtra on the opening day of the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy in September 2018 was one of the most unforgettable moments of his domestic career.
A month later, the Noida native made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh, bowling Goa out for 152 in Kanpur. Mavi got his first 5-fer in the first-class arena in the next contest, which he won against Odisha.
U-19 Career
Mavi was picked for the U-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand after impressing Rahul Dravid at the NCA. New Zealand’s lush, bouncy pitch proved to be the perfect foil for Mavi and his incredible pace. Mavi was at the heart of India’s lethal pace assault, which lit up the World Cup with some ferocious bowling. Mavi, in partnership with Kamlesh Nagarkoti, helped run through the Australian batting order in the tournament’s first game, and then cemented himself as the tournament’s opening bowler, picking up nine wickets at an impressive pace of 18.88 and an economy rate of 4.12.
IPL Career
His U-19 achievements were noted, and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) snapped him up for Rs 3 crore. Mavi made his IPL debut in 2018 and went on to appear in nine matches for the two-time winners, despite only taking five wickets at an average of 54. Owing to an injury, he was unable to play in the 2019 edition. For him, the 2020 season is expected to be a watershed moment.
Background
Shivam Mavi was born in Noida on November 26, 1998. His father, Pankaj Mavi, works for the Noida Authority as a government contractor. Mavi grew up idolising Dale Steyn, who he finds to be his hero.
Mavi is a master of the inswing delivery, bowling open-chested to allow the ball to swing sharply inside. He gets most of his wickets with this mix of pace and movement of the ball. Although the national team hasn’t asked anything of him with the bat and he’s always used as a lower-order batsman, he’s basically an all-rounder who can smack the ball hard, something he showed off when he did get to bat. When he bowled a fiery delivery registered at 146 kph against Australia in the first match of the U-19 World Cup, he also attracted the attention of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.