After a strong season in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022 (ten wickets in seven matches), India bowler Shivam Mavi received his first India call-up for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
With the T20 World Cup in 2024 in mind, the Indian management is seeking to construct a roster with youthful potential, and Mavi seems to be in the mix. In the Indian Premier League, the 24-year-old was recently signed by the reigning champions Gujarat Titans for INR 6 crore during the IPL auction.
As a result, when the selectors revealed the team for the following series, his success in T20 cricket was not forgotten.
The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer claimed that when he received his first call-up, everything came to a halt. The pacer revealed that he was alongside colleagues Saurabh Kumar and Samarth Singh when the roster was selected and that he was really upset after the news.
“When we play domestic games, we generally hit the bed early to get good rest. But I was sitting in Saurabh [left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar] bhaiyya’s room with Samarth [Singh] that day since I heard the team was likely to be named. For a single second after learning of my selection, everything came to a halt. It was an incredible sensation. “I felt sad, but I knew it was my time,” Mavi said.
Despite being a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders club for five years, the young Indian pacer has only appeared in 32 IPL games and has taken 30 wickets at an economy rate of 8.71.
With Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur joining KKR, Mavi feels it would be tough for him to have enough chances at the club, and hence a move might help him receive more IPL appearances.
“When KKR took Umesh [Umesh Yadav] bhaiyya into their fold last year, then it was evident that he would be the premier Indian fast bowler, and that my prospects would dry up. They now had Shardul [Thakur], and I knew I wouldn’t have many chances to express myself.
I believe that joining the Gujarat Titans would provide me with additional opportunities to perform and express myself. “Additionally, the experiences I get from the dressing room will help me become a lot better bowler,” Mavi continued.
