Shivam Mavi

Shivam Mavi as a national prospect was solidified during the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid, the Indian squad featured a pace battery that fundamentally challenged the historical limitations of age-group cricket in the subcontinent. Mavi, standing at 1.75 meters, lacked the traditional towering stature of a classic fast bowler, yet he generated exceptional pace.

Alongside Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mavi formed a formidable new-ball partnership that utilized the lateral movement and bounce of New Zealand’s surfaces to dismantle opposition top orders. His performance in the semi-final against Australia was a tactical masterclass in back-of-a-length bowling, where he claimed a pivotal four-wicket haul to secure India’s passage to the final.

Kolkata Knight Riders moved for him at the IPL 2018 auction, signing him for Rs 3 crore. His debut campaign with KKR was modest, and a stress fracture of the back soon derailed his progress entirely. He used his time away from franchise cricket wisely, making his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy against Goa, where he claimed a four-wicket haul on debut and followed it up with a maiden five-wicket haul in his very next game against Odisha. On the opening day of the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took a hat-trick against Saurashtra.

After returning to full fitness, Mavi put in his most productive IPL season in 2020, picking up nine wickets across eight games for KKR. The franchise doubled down on their belief in him at the IPL 2022 auction, buying him back for Rs 7.25 crore, making it one of the more significant investments in a domestic fast bowler that cycle. That faith was not rewarded as his economy rate proved to be a bit too high and he couldn't show consistency in picking wickets either.

Gujarat Titans acquired him ahead of IPL 2023, but he did not feature in a single match for them. ucknow Super Giants gave him a fresh start in IPL 2024, but a fresh injury struck during the season and ended his campaign prematurely. He went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, completing a difficult stretch that saw him cycle through four franchises across seven years.

Mavi earned his maiden India call-up for the T20I series against Sri Lanka and made his debut at the Wankhede Stadium on January 3, 2023. He picked up four wickets for 22 runs, becoming only the third Indian cricketer to take four wickets on T20I debut. But unfortunately, he was unable to build on that debut because his body and the competition around him conspired against a sustained run.

Representing Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit has been the bedrock of Mavi’s career. Since his first-class debut in November 2018, against Goa, where he claimed a 4-fer, Mavi has consistently demonstrated that his pace is effective across formats. His domestic career reached a pinnacle during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. In a high-stakes encounter against Vidarbha in January 2026, Mavi produced a career-best performance of 7/59, single-handedly forcing a first-innings tie against the defending champions.

What makes the 2025-26 season particularly notable is the evolution of Mavi’s batting. No longer a traditional tail-ender, he has transformed into a genuine lower-order threat. This transformation was underscored by his maiden first-class century (101 off 87 balls) against Nagaland and a blistering 54 off 21 balls in the UP T20 league for Kashi Rudras.

The 2026 IPL auction in Abu Dhabi marked the beginning of Mavi’s redemption arc. Acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 75 lakhs, Mavi got another chance to prove his skills at the toughest league of the world.