Cricket has this funny way of making you eat your words. One week, a bowler’s getting hammered in a local league, and the next, he’s breathing fire in the IPL. Akash Madhwal is a prime example of this flip-the-script story. Once written off for being ineffective in the Uttarakhand Premier League, he’s now got fans and experts nodding in admiration and wondering why it took so long to unleash him.
Rhythm Over Reputation: The Madhwal Mojo
What makes Akash Madhwal so tantalizing to watch is certainly not just his statistics – he has a rhythm to him. You can feel it in his run-up, in his body language, and in the way he bowls his lethal yorkers with such absolute assertiveness.
Things looked dark at the start of the season – not in the playing XI – and it felt like people were beginning to settle into an acceptance that he had perhaps lost it. Okay – he did not dazzle in the Uttarakhand Premier League. But that is the beauty of rhythm: you can lose it in the blink of an eye, and regain it in the same time. Once he got picked up in the IPL, it was as if someone had flicked a light switch.
Madhwal showed he can be hazardous; when he finds his rhythm, he’s deadly, especially in the death overs. His control and pace variations have perplexed the best batters at times. Madhwal has gone from being an afterthought to being a serviceable option for MI. As Aakash Chopra said, “He has looked the part since he was brought in.” And it is documentation for that part, and not simply all about how he looks.
The Waiting Game: Delayed Entry, Instant Impact
So, the million-dollar question: why wasn’t he playing from the start?
Chopra hinted that the think-tank might have been swayed by Madhwal’s underwhelming show in the domestic league. Fair, but risky. IPL is a different beast altogether. What doesn’t work on a nippy ground in Dehradun might just click under the Wankhede lights. And that’s exactly what happened.
It seems like the Mumbai Indians management wanted to give him time to work through his form issues, or maybe they just wanted to test other combinations. But as injuries and out-of-form bowlers forced their hand, Madhwal finally got his chance—and boy, did he grab it. His first couple of spells were measured and smart. No drama, no fuss—just solid execution. But in Madhwal’s case, you can’t help but wonder what more he could’ve done had he been picked earlier.
Read Also: The Race to the Top 4 – Who’s In, Who’s Out in IPL 2025
From Fringe to Firebrand: The Mental Game
What really makes Madhwal’s rise impressive isn’t just skill—it’s mindset.
Being benched several games after a domestic season that one would like to forget could have knocked anyone’s confidence. And rather than sulking, he stayed ready. Mental strength like that is often overlooked. He has shown with his consistency, control, and bowling in difficult moments that he belongs.
Furthermore, you can tell that he has the hunger. And for a franchise like Mumbai Indians, who play well in big moments, there are players like Madhwal, who are worth it all. He might not have the flair like Bumrah, or the mystery like Malinga (yet), but he has the determination and growth curve that is difficult to ignore.
Will he continue this run and cement a longer-term role in the Mumbai squad—or even eye an India cap in the future? Only time will tell. But for now, one thing’s for sure: Madhwal has looked the part, and he’s made sure no one forgets it.
What other hidden gems are we overlooking in domestic cricket? Drop your thoughts—maybe the next Akash Madhwal is already waiting for his spotlight.
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