Alur: Shivam Mavi’s remarkable performance with the ball proved crucial as Central Zone bundled out West Zone for 220 runs in the first inning of the Duleep Trophy semifinals at the Alur grounds. The 24-year-old pacer’s figures of 6 for 44 dismantled a formidable West Zone batting lineup, further solidifying his position as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Mavi’s exceptional display of skill and accuracy with the red ball left a lasting impact on the game. His impressive figures played a pivotal role in the Central Zone’s success, restricting the West Zone to a modest total. Mavi’s consistent performances over the past few years have earned him recognition, and now the pacer aims to establish himself as a versatile player across all formats of the game.
Expressing his ambitions, Mavi said, “I have been performing well with the red ball in the last three or four years. Hopefully, I will get to play in Test matches. It is not like I want to play only in one format, and I am working hard to be ready for all three formats.”
Mavi’s outstanding performance in the Duleep Trophy semifinals caught the attention of the national selectors, who bestowed upon him the captaincy of the Central Zone team for the domestic season opener. This significant responsibility signifies the selectors’ faith in Mavi’s abilities and positions him as a prominent candidate on the national radar.
Expressing his happiness at being entrusted with the captaincy, Mavi said, “I feel very happy about it. The selectors have given me such a big responsibility. It is difficult for fast bowlers in India because of the conditions. But here in Bangalore, the conditions are fine, and we don’t get tired that much. I have played in England, and the weather is quite similar here. We get time to think as a captain.”
While leading the team, Mavi did not let the captaincy duties affect his bowling performance. Out of his six wickets, three were crucial breakthroughs, including Cheteshwar Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sarfaraz Khan, which broke the backbone of the West Zone’s middle order.
Mavi’s recent form has been impressive, as he has now claimed nine wickets in his last three innings. The key to his success, according to the talented pacer, lies in simplicity. He said, “It does not matter to me who the batsman is. For me, it is all about bowling in the right areas, and if I can do that, I will get the wickets.”
Having spent three months away from competitive cricket after playing the Ahmedabad T20I for India against New Zealand in February, Mavi did not let the lack of game time affect his preparations. Although he did not get a chance to play in the IPL 2023 despite being part of the Gujarat Titans, Mavi remained motivated and focused on improving his skills through intense net sessions.
Discussion about this post