India’s greenhorn fast bowler Shivam Mavi revealed he was waiting to make his debut for six years after playing for India’s Under-19 team. Mavi was part of India’s successful Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2018 and he played a key role in the team’s triumph by taking nine wickets in six matches.
Since then, it has been a bumpy road for the fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh. Multiple injuries have hampered his progress but he never lost sight of his aim – which was to make his debut in the national colors at the highest level.
The day finally arrived when Mavi was given his T20I cap by stand-in captain Hardik Pandya on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai against Sri Lanka. Mavi was given the new ball by Pandya with India defending 163 and he made a nervous start, conceding two boundaries against Kusal Mendis.
However, the 24-year-old made a rollicking comeback as he got the ball to move back into Pathum Nissanka to find the passage between his bat and pad and rattle the stumps to take his maiden International scalp in his very first over.
Mavi once again followed the same script to take his second wicket of the night as he conceded two boundaries against Dhananjaya de Silva but then had him caught at mid-on.
The youngster then took two more wickets in his second spell as he accounted for Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Hasaranga’s wicket for crucial for the home team as he had already added 40 runs with skipper Dasun Shanaka and was threatening to take the game away.
Shivam Mavi said after the game while talking to the host broadcasters, “The landing zone was a little slippery. Was waiting for six years after playing U19. Had to work hard in those six years – got injured as well. For a while it looked like my dream will remain a dream. But I kept at it. Having played the IPL, the nervousness is a little less. My idea in the powerplay is to attack and get them out. Favorite dismissal was the first one, getting him bowled.”
The second T20I between these two teams will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Thursday.
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