Tyagi made his first-class debut when just 16. Then he was India’s most successful bowler at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, and in IPL 2020, he was the most successful fast bowler after Jofra Archer for Rajasthan Royals. Bowling at speeds between 145kph and 150kph brought him in the spotlight, but he did more than just bowl fast. His death-bowling smarts helped him defend just four runs in a final over of an IPL game against Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda and Fabian Allen.
However, it’s been grim reading since then. He played just four IPL matches in 2021, two in 2022, three in 2023, just one in 2024, and missed 2025 altogether. And despite making his first-class debut in 2017, he only has four matches in the format against his name, just 20 List A games, and a total of 37 T20s.
The last few months have been different, though. He has played in all three formats domestically for Uttar Pradesh in the 2025-26 season, with the 18 wickets in 11 games at the UPT20 league in August-September last year a highlight.
“There comes a time in every fast bowler’s career when they are plagued by injuries. Perhaps I was going through that very phase,” Tyagi told ESPNcricinfo. “Over the last four or five years, I was getting injured repeatedly. After regaining fitness, whenever I would resume bowling and play a few matches, I would get injured once again. At that time, I simply couldn’t understand what was happening to me.
“I suffered from shin splints [a persistent pain in the calves], and the discomfort would intensify whenever I ran in. Whenever I resumed playing cricket after recovering from various injuries, this pain would inevitably return. After that, I travelled to Bengaluru to consult with Ashish Kaushik [the former India physiotherapist]. He worked on modifying my running mechanics – specifically how I run. I had to overhaul my running technique, my mid-foot landing, and several other aspects.
“When you are sidelined from cricket and opportunities slip away, it takes a heavy toll on you, and you can become mentally distressed. Since my cricket career was being adversely affected by this pain and these injuries, [Kaushik] helped me navigate through that mental struggle. Now, I am back in action, and it feels wonderful to be reconnected with the sport. I have been playing cricket consistently for the past year, and my skills have improved significantly.”
Tyagi burst onto the scene as an express quick who could nail his yorkers. More recently, he has refined his slower deliveries. KKR’s bowling coach Dwayne Bravo – one of the best exponents of the slower ball – will now be at hand for Tyagi to develop such variations more.
“I have only had the opportunity to speak with him two or three times so far, but even in that short span, I have learned a great deal from him,” Tyagi said of his interactions with Bravo. “He is a legend of the T20 format and knows exactly how to adapt to the various match situations that arise during fast-paced T20 games. For instance, there are times when a lot of runs are conceded during the powerplay; in such scenarios, he knows exactly what mindset to adopt when stepping up to bowl in the death overs.”
After missing most of IPL 2024, no team wanted him at the IPL 2025 auction. However, his fitness and bowling tricks impressed KKR enough to acquire his services for INR 30 lakh ahead of this season.
“I knew that if I wanted to make a comeback to the IPL, performing well in the UP league was absolutely crucial for my career,” Tyagi said. “I prepared specifically for that objective; I went there, delivered the performances, regained my feel for the game, and rediscovered the self-belief that I am capable of doing this.
“If I were to go and practice in a single-wicket net session or play cricket at a local level, even if I bowled a poor delivery, there likely wouldn’t be batsmen of a high enough calibre to capitalise on it. But playing at the domestic level teaches you a great deal, which ultimately helps you refine and improve your game.”
Kartik Tyagi was all the rage a few years ago, but when KKR bought him at the last IPL auction, he cost them just INR 30 lakh•KKR
When Tyagi arrived at KKR, his UP T20 League captain – and now KKR vice-captain – Rinku Singh took the lead in introducing him to the team, and settling him in.
Now, he has a job to do in a squad with severely depleted fast-bowling resources: Akash Deep, Harshit Rana and Mustafizur Rahman are all out for one reason or another.
“There is indeed a responsibility,” he said. “But my past injuries have taught me not to dwell on what happened in the past or worry about what the future holds. I simply need to stay in the present moment and focus on my process. Therefore, I no longer overthink things; instead, I stick to my process and concentrate on what I can do right now.
“That is the sole thought occupying my mind – to avoid getting bogged down by the idea that there is a burden of responsibility upon me. My focus, at this very moment, is entirely on what I can contribute to the team.”
Daya Sagar is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo’s Hindi team @dayasagar95
