Madhav Tiwari

Madhav Tiwari’s journey from a small village in Mauganj, Madhya Pradesh, to the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a story of dedication, hard work, and passion for cricket. He is an all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls medium-fast. Madhav started playing cricket at the young age of eight. His talent was first recognized by former Ranji player Kushal Chourey, who encouraged him to take the game seriously. Under the guidance of Amay Khurasiya’s Cricket Academy, Madhav polished his skills and soon made his mark in age-group cricket.

His rise in cricket was swift. He played for Indore Division’s Under-15 and Under-18 teams, where he impressed everyone with his all-round abilities. As the captain of the Under-18 team, he led from the front, scoring a double century in a crucial match, helping his team lift the trophy. In the 2021-22 season, Madhav was the highest wicket-taker in the Senior Division MK Bhaya Trophy, proving his skills as a fast-bowling all-rounder.

Madhav continued to shine in domestic tournaments. In 2024, he played for the Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, where he took three wickets and scored 72 runs while batting in the lower order. His ability to bowl crucial overs and finish innings with the bat made him a valuable asset. One of his most memorable performances came when he took a hat-trick against Rewa Division, finishing with six wickets in a single match.

His consistent performances didn’t go unnoticed. In the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Madhav entered with a base price of 30 lakh. The MI and DC both showed interest in the young all-rounder, but DC secured him for 40 lakh after a brief bidding war. His 2025 season was defined by professional exposure under the mentorship of Hemang Badani (Head Coach), Ian Bell (Assistant Coach), and Munaf Patel (Bowling Coach). Although he did not feature in the starting XI for the initial phase of the tournament, he was brought into the active roster as a tactical replacement for Vipraj Nigam during the final leg of the league.

He made his IPL debut on May 21, 2025, against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. While his debut statistical outputs were modest, the experience of performing at the toughest league gave him a good exposure. Following the conclusion of the 2025 IPL, Tiwari transitioned back to the Madhya Pradesh senior side for the 2025-26 domestic calendar.

A significant indicator of the DC's belief in Tiwari’s potential was his retention for the 2026 season. He was retained at his existing salary of 40 Lakh, keeping a high-value domestic all-rounder within the squad.