Shivam Mavi considers Hardik Pandya as his competitor

The Indian colts continue to grab the headlines after their U19 World Cup win in New Zealand last week. The star performer with the ball their championship campaign, 19-year-old pacer Shivam Mavi, stands out among the lot with his ability to bowl at and over 145 kmph quite consistently. His exploits made him one of the star attractions in the IPL 2018 auction, in which he was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He is an out and out fast bowler and beat the players from Australia and other teams that are considered better players of seam bowling with pace. Mavi’s strength is not just the numbers he can clock on the speed gun but the ability to bowl and maintain most of his deliveries in the channel on and outside the off-stump. With that kind of pace at his disposal and the ability extract lateral movement, the right-arm pacer will just get better with age.

Competing with Hardik Pandya?

In an interesting revelation, the Noida-born cricketer has said that he sees Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya as his competition in the national team. “Currently, I see Hardik Pandya as my competitor,” Mavi was quoted as saying by inuth.com.

Unlike most, Mavi does not believe that good performances in the IPL warrant you a ticket to the national team. He instead feels that consistency in the domestic circuit can take one to the national team.

“To get selected for the Indian national team, I would rather focus on performing at the domestic level rather than in the upcoming IPL season to grab the selectors’ eye. The more you play domestic cricket, the more chances you have to get picked for Indian national team,” the youngster added.

From a batsman to a bowler

Interestingly, Mavi began his career as a specialist batsman. But after he joined the Wanderers Cricket Academy in Noida, his coach knew that his true potential would be explored only as a bowler. He could not play cricket for almost a year after damaging the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his left leg, but he modified his bowling action and from being an outswing specialist became an inswing bowler.

The pace sensation completed his schooling from City Public School in Noida and is currently pursuing Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) at Al-Falah University in Faridabad. All eyes will be on him on the approaching eleventh edition of the IPL, beginning in April.