Kartik Tyagi

A fast-medium bowler who loves to swing the ball both ways at moderate pace, Kartik Tyagi comes from the land that produced swing merchants Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Not surprising that Kartik has taken the same route and the U19 World Cup 2020 was where Kartik made a global statement. His speeds were impressive but even more impressive was his ability to generate movement in the air and at times, off the pitch too. With the old ball, Kartik can vary his pace and execute yorkers too.

Tyagi’s IPL journey began with Rajasthan Royals in 2020, where he picked up 9 wickets in his debut season and showed glimpses of his death-bowling ability. Across his IPL career so far, he has featured in 20 matches, picking up around 15 wickets, often used as a support seamer rather than a frontline strike option. One of his standout moments came in IPL 2021 when he famously defended just 4 runs in the final over against Punjab Kings, highlighting his temperament under pressure.

However, his journey post that breakthrough has been slightly inconsistent. Stints with Sunrisers Hyderabad and later Gujarat Titans offered limited opportunities and he struggled to cement a regular place in the XI. Injuries and competition meant his appearances were sporadic and his impact, while promising, remained largely untapped over seasons.

Heading into the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Tyagi finds himself at an important juncture. With KKR dealing with injuries to key pacers, he is expected to get opportunities to feature in the playing XI and strengthen the pace attack. For KKR, Tyagi’s role will likely revolve around providing control in the middle overs and stepping up in death situations with his yorkers. If he can translate his raw skill and past flashes of brilliance into consistent performances, Tyagi could evolve from a fringe bowler into a reliable Indian pace option in the tournament.