With the rise of RP Singh, Praveen Kumar and more recently Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the state of Uttar Pradesh has become the breeding ground for future India pacers of late. The latest sensation who could extend this trend over the coming years is the exciting Kartik Tyagi.
The 19-year-old Hapur native is set to undertake his maiden Indian Premier League campaign after being snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals. Tyagi’s claim to fame are his performances in the U-19 World Cup earlier this year, though he has long been touted as a youth prodigy.
The fast bowler was only 16 when he made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in 2019, but a subsequent injury has thwarted any attempt to add to his tally at this level. It was a freak injury which occurred during a game of football as he warmed up for his second Ranji Trophy appearance. It set Tyagi back by more than a year.
That unfortunate memory is now in the past for the teenager as he gears up for a potential IPL debut in the UAE. Built with a wiry and tall frame, Tyagi’s forte lies in the pace he generates with the ball. In the U-19 World Cup in South Africa, he regularly clocked speeds over 140kph while also getting the ball to swing in the air.
With his love for pace, it is no surprise that Tyagi has grown up idolising former Australia tearaway quick Brett Lee.
“Pace is definitely my greatest asset. My biggest passion has always been to bowl extremely fast,” the Rajasthan Royals rookie told Sport360.
“There have been multiple bowlers who I have tried to copy since I was a child. There is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, also Mitchell Starc. I used to watch them and try to bowl exactly like them.
“However, if there is one bowler who has influenced me the most while growing up, it is Brett Lee. He is my biggest role model. I admire him a lot and still try to model my bowling on him.”
While Tyagi’s admiration for Lee is no secret, the teen pacer will have no dearth of role models to choose from over the course of the IPL campaign. England pace ace Jofra Archer will lead the Royals pace attack in the tournament and is a player that Tyagi is keen to learn from.
“He is one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now, so of course I am excited to train with him,” he said.
“But first of all, I want to know the secret behind his effortless bowling style. He just looks so casual while running up to the crease and yet he delivers the ball at such a speed! I will try to pick his brains.
“I have heard that he is a great guy and a gentleman. But first, I really want to ask him how he generates those speeds so casually.”
Archer will only join the Rajasthan camp in Sharjah after the completion of the ODI series between England and Australia, therefore the potential link-up for Tyagi will have to wait for now. Meanwhile, the players have already hit the nets in the Emirates ahead of the tournament’s opener in three weeks.
And while he is revelling in the experience of his maiden IPL campaign, Tyagi loves to immerse himself in video games when off the training pitch.
“If there is something I really like apart from playing cricket, it is playing video games. I love playing PUBG and Call of Duty,” he revealed.
Being picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming edition could do wonders for Tyagi’s career, with the franchise’s track record of giving young players a springboard for the future. Previously, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson have been propelled into the spotlight after impressing for the Royals in the IPL.
Tyagi is all praise for his experiences with the franchise so far and is revelling in the family-like environment at Rajasthan.
“It has been a welcoming atmosphere from the very start and everyone here is like a family,” Tyagi said.
“Even in the previous training camp held in India, it was a great atmosphere with the players as well as the staff. The camaraderie is great to see.”
The lucrative IPL deal with the franchise has come as a much-needed financial windfall for Tyagi and his family. His parents had previously been forced to sell off their agricultural land for the treatment of his injury.
Having bagged a contract of AED 6,52,982 at the first opportunity, Tyagi is delighted to be able to give something back.
“It (IPL contract) has been a big change of course. We had financial problems at home and this IPL deal will certainly help improve that,” he said.
“But the biggest positive of this is to finally fulfil a lifelong dream. I have been watching the IPL on TV growing up and now I am on that stage. How can that not be exciting?”
Life in the fast lane is just getting started for Tyagi, despite his undying love for pace and speed. Whether he will get the chance to make his IPL debut in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but big things are undoubtedly on the way if he keeps up his current trajectory.
