'India ke liye 15 saal khelna hai': Delhi Capitals' 'ziddi boy' Madhav Tiwari chases big India dream | EXCLUSIVE

NEW DELHI: The 22-year-old Madhav Tiwari entered IPL 2026 without any prior senior-level experience. He featured in just four matches during the season, but that brief stint was enough to grab attention and announce his arrival on the big stage.

Hailing from Mauganj in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, Madhav is now looking to take the next step in his cricketing journey - first by establishing himself in domestic cricket for his state and then chasing his ultimate dream of representing India.

"Sapne bahot hain. India ke liye 15 saal khelna hai [I have a lot of dreams. My biggest dream is to play for India and represent the country for 15 years]," Madhav told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.




Madhav was part of the Delhi Capitals squad in IPL 2025 but managed to play only one game. Much of his time was spent waiting in the dugout, carrying drinks and supporting the team from the sidelines. The breakthrough finally arrived in IPL 2026 when he earned a place in the playing XI and featured in three matches, claiming four wickets. His scalps were big names - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shubham Dubey, Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly.

What makes Madhav's rise even more remarkable is that he was never originally groomed as a bowler. In fact, he was primarily a batter before his bowling ability was identified and nurtured. Under the guidance of former India cricketer Amay Khurasiya, Madhav worked extensively on both his batting and bowling, gradually transforming himself into a genuine all-rounder.

His all-round skills were on display after dismissing Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. With Delhi Capitals under pressure during a chase, Madhav produced a valuable cameo to steer his side home.

Facing the very first ball of his IPL career, he showed remarkable composure, rocking onto the back foot and steering the delivery behind square for a boundary. In the following over, he launched a six and then followed it up with a four, helping Delhi Capitals complete the chase in style. The youngster's 'I am a 100% batter and 100% bowler' comment summed up everything after the match.

Madhav and love for 'Khraab' situation matches
Known in Madhya Pradesh cricket circles as the 'kharab situation' boy and a stubborn competitor who thrives under pressure, Madhav once again found himself in the kind of situation he relishes most - and delivered when it mattered.

"This was not the first time I found myself in such a situation. I actually enjoy these moments. I love playing under pressure and, thankfully, I have been able to perform well in pressure situations too," he said.

"I can share one incident. There was an Under-23 match for Madhya Pradesh where we needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals. The required run rate was very high and we were under pressure. I went in and scored 86 runs off 32 balls. I really enjoyed that knock. We won the match and qualified as well. Against Punjab Kings in the IPL, it was my first game and the situation was quite similar. I stayed calm, backed myself and was happy that I could contribute to the team's victory," the 22-year-old said.

"Amay Sir has played a huge role in my career. He made me mentally strong from a very young age. He always told me, 'If you want to play for India, you need to excel in every department — batting, bowling and fielding.' He also placed great emphasis on fitness. He would always say that talent might help you play for India, but how long you stay there will depend on your fitness. That's something you should never take lightly," he said.

"My immediate goal is to establish myself in the Ranji Trophy and continue performing in domestic cricket for my state. I want to take one step at a time. But the dream of playing for India is always there. That's the ultimate goal. I want to represent India and, hopefully, do it for a long time," the youngster added.

The bagful of learnings
Madhav, who was bought for Rs 40 lakh at the IPL 2025 auction, was retained by Delhi Capitals for the 2026 season.

As an aspiring all-rounder, he entered the tournament determined to make the most of the opportunity and absorb as much knowledge as possible from a star-studded Delhi Capitals dressing room featuring the likes of Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Starc, David Miller and several other big international cricketers.

"First of all, everyone made me feel very comfortable. It never felt like these were players I had only watched on TV and was now sharing a dressing room with. The environment was extremely supportive. You could go up to anyone for advice, talk about the game, discuss your thoughts, or ask questions whenever you wanted. The seniors made everything very easy for me. I learned a lot from all of them and built good relationships as well. To be honest, I bonded really well with Lungi. I also share a very good rapport with Axar bhai and Kuldeep bhaiya," Madhav said.

"The captain gave us complete freedom to express ourselves and play our natural game. You could share your plans and ideas, and he would give his inputs whenever he felt necessary. But it never felt like he was forcing anything on you. He was always very supportive. I have always believed that if you back yourself and are mentally ready for any level, then it is only a matter of time before you get there. Whether it is club cricket or any other level, the principle remains the same. I never felt that a lack of exposure would hold me back. I had confidence that I could face international bowlers, play in the IPL and perform at that level," he said.

"I bowled to Axar and KL Rahul and faced Mitchell Starc and David Miller in the nets. That was a huge learning experience for me. Pressure kya hota, inn sabb ne mujhe sikhaya [They taught me what pressure at the highest level really means]. Miller, in particular, helped me understand the true meaning of being an all-rounder. It takes a lot to become a genuine all-rounder, and those interactions taught me a great deal," Madhav signed off.