Chennai Super Kings fast bowler Akash Madhwal believes that getting an opportunity to be a net bowler for RCB in the IPL was a turning point in his life. Madhwal represented Uttarakhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 for the first time and bagged six wickets in five matches to finish as the state’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

After impressing in the domestic circuit, RCB’s Malolan Rangarajan called Madhwal to be a net bowler for the franchise. Madhwal was able to grab his chance and got the opportunity to bowl at players he had only seen on TV.

Akash Madhwal said on Sports Tak, “It was the 20-21 season of our domestic cricket when I represented Uttarakhand for the first time in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and I was the highest wicket-taker for Uttarakhand at that time. So, when the entire season ended, I received a call from Malolan sir. Sir told me, ‘Akash, you can come and join us as a net bowler.’ So, that was a turning point in my life as I suddenly got to see the players I had only watched on TV, watching them in the IPL; I had only ever seen Virat bhaiya, AB de Villiers, and others on TV.”

Madhwal said he made the most of his experience of bowling to RCB batters and he learnt a lot of new things.

“So, it was a very good experience being associated with RCB. It was my very first year of cricket when I started playing professionally. So, I felt really good after going there. I got to learn a lot of things. What are work ethics? What do cricketers actually do? How do they maintain themselves? How do they stay injury-free? Gym sessions, training, bowling, I learned so much about all these things there. From there, I built myself up for the future.”

Madhwal has scalped 23 wickets in 17 IPL matches.