Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2026 season looked like it could slip away when 22-year-old Madhav Tiwari was handed his maiden game of the campaign against Punjab Kings. With Delhi needing 41 runs off 21 balls after David Miller’s departure, Madhav faced the first delivery of his IPL life and met it with composure—staying on the back foot and guiding it behind square for a boundary. In the very next over, he struck a six and then followed it up with a four, helping Delhi Capitals close the contest in style.
From first-ball nerves to a finishing burst
The impact didn’t stop at the cameo that sealed the match. Before his decisive hitting, Madhav had already provided crucial breakthroughs by taking the wickets of Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. His all-round contribution earned him the Player of the Match nod.
Sunday’s do-or-die meeting at Delhi against Rajasthan Royals offered another opportunity, and Madhav again delivered under pressure. He removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a key threat in the opposition’s batting, and later accounted for Shubham Dubey as Delhi Capitals registered another important win.
Why Delhi see a “pressure” player in Madhav
With just two matches in the IPL, Madhav has already shown why Delhi Capitals value him so highly. Those who have followed him over the years say his rise should not come as a surprise, given how he has built a reputation in Madhya Pradesh cricket as a youngster who refuses to fold when the situation turns difficult.
A childhood dream built around batting
Growing up in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, and later brought up in Indore, Madhav’s goal was simple: bat—“bat, bat, and only bat.” He had little interest in bowling, a preference that was shared by his family. His father, Awadhesh Tiwari, who runs a shop, was also convinced Madhav was destined to be a batter. That belief began to shift when Madhav came under the guidance of former India cricketer Amay Khurasiya at his academy.
“Jao bowling karo” — the moment his role changed
When Khurasiya encouraged Madhav to bowl, the youngster appeared uninterested at first. Khurasiya told him, “Jao bowling karo,” and Madhav obliged by bowling a couple of deliveries. The coach quickly saw something in him and then delivered the next instruction: “Jyada bowling, time mile to batting. It’s final.”
In the days that followed, Madhav had to juggle bowling and batting. Soon, he understood what Khurasiya was aiming for and followed the plan. Khurasiya’s conviction about Madhav’s potential has now started to pay off on T20 cricket’s biggest stage.
Coach’s view: made for difficult moments
Khurasiya described Madhav as a “ziddi” and “kharaab situation” player—someone who thrives when pressure rises. He also suggested that at 22, with limited IPL experience so far, Madhav appears ready to step into higher levels and become more than just another name in the flow of players. “Madhav standing up at the age of 22 with such limited experience shows he is made for something bigger. He is made for higher levels. He is not someone who will settle for being just another player in the stream. He is destined for the ocean and to become a part of something much bigger,” Khurasiya said.
Forced to bowl, then proved himself
Khurasiya added that although Madhav disliked bowling, he made sure the youngster learned the craft properly. Between the ages of 12 and 14, he ensured Madhav bowled regularly, and even went as far as taking the bat away at times because he sensed special ability in him as a bowler. Khurasiya said he is now extremely happy to see Madhav taking wickets and also contributing with the bat. He emphasized that Madhav has developed into a genuine bowling option and not a part-timer, while also being suited to batting higher up the order rather than being confined to the tail.
- Khurasiya said Madhav was a bat-first player who later learned to fall in love with bowling too.
- He stressed that Madhav is a full-time bowler, not someone who bowls occasionally.
- He also insisted Madhav is suited to top-order batting rather than lower-order roles.
After winning Player-of-the-Match against PBKS, Madhav summed up his identity in simple terms: “I’m 100% bowler, 100% batsman.”
Domestic track record and defining character moments
Even though Madhav had impressed in age-group cricket in Madhya Pradesh, he had not played a senior-level match before joining the IPL setup. His pathway into the professional environment began with the Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League over the last two seasons.
Impact in Madhya Pradesh T20 leagues
He produced a strong 2024 campaign in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, where he scored at a strike rate of 205.71. He carried that momentum into 2025 as well, averaging 54 while maintaining a strike rate of 180.
“Kharaab situation” even with a broken thumb
Khurasiya recalled an Under-12 tournament incident that captured Madhav’s temperament. In that match, Madhav had a broken thumb, bandaged and swollen, yet he kept urging the coach to let him go on and bowl. Khurasiya said he could not forget that day and explained that the youngster was persistent with the question—asking again and again if he should play, promising he would win. Eventually, Khurasiya told him to go.
According to the coach, despite the injury, Madhav took wickets with that broken thumb and helped the team win. Khurasiya used the story to highlight that Madhav is truly a “kharaab situation” player—someone who speaks with confidence when a match is slipping away, saying he will bring the result home.
Family sacrifices and early signs of a long IPL future
Madhav’s dedication has been evident beyond the boundary line. At one stage, he missed a major family milestone—his sister’s wedding—because of cricket commitments. Awadhesh explained that just three days before the wedding, Madhav had to leave for a tournament in Mumbai where he was expected to stay for 9–10 days. The family was upset, and Awadhesh said they all cried as they dropped him at the airport. Yet when Madhav returned, he came back with the winning trophy.
Awadhesh added that seeing Madhav on television winning matches and collecting awards for Delhi Capitals has made him feel proud. He said people now recognize him locally and often tell him that Madhav’s father has been going places—an indication of how quickly his son’s IPL journey has already begun to resonate.
It remains early, and there is plenty of growth ahead, but in only two appearances Madhav has already displayed the kind of match-winning skill that can translate with both bat and ball. For now, it is a small sample size, but the glimpses have been strong enough to suggest Delhi Capitals may have found a player for the future—someone who, if nurtured properly, can aim for bigger achievements ahead.
