New Delhi, May 9: Karthik Tyagi, the right-arm fast bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has made a significant impact in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) with his impressive speed. The 25-year-old has bowled a total of 35 overs in 10 matches this season, taking 13 wickets while conceding 210 runs. He currently ranks among the top 10 wicket-takers in the tournament.
Born on November 8, 2000, in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, Karthik’s father, Yogendra, did not want his son to follow in the family’s farming footsteps. Instead, he encouraged Karthik to pursue cricket.
Due to a lack of facilities in their village, Yogendra decided to move 13-year-old Karthik to Meerut, where he received training at CVPS Cricket Academy and Bhamashah Park.
Despite financial constraints, Karthik understood his family’s situation. He began helping in the fields, carrying loads of crops to storage, which strengthened his arms. This hard work enabled him to bowl at speeds of 140-145 km/h.
In just four years, Karthik showcased his talent by performing exceptionally in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy, which led to his selection for the Uttar Pradesh Ranji team, where he excelled. His skills soon earned him a spot on India’s Under-19 team.
Karthik played in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, where India finished as runners-up. He caught everyone’s attention by taking 11 wickets at an average of 13.91 across six matches, impressing even Rahul Dravid with his bowling.
In 2020, Rajasthan Royals (RR) acquired Karthik for ₹1.30 crore. He played 10 matches that season, taking 9 wickets. However, in IPL 2021, he managed only 4 wickets in 4 matches. Despite this, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) signed him for ₹4 crore for IPL 2022.
Karthik played two more seasons with SRH at the same price, but only managed 2 wickets in 5 matches. In IPL 2024, Gujarat Titans (GT) took a chance on him for ₹60 lakh, but he played just one match without taking any wickets.
Having played 20 IPL matches for three different teams, Karthik had only 15 wickets to his name by IPL 2025, leading to no bids for him that season. He then focused on improving his game in domestic cricket, which caught the attention of KKR. They signed him for IPL 2026 at a base price of ₹30 lakh.
This season marked the lowest fee of Karthik’s IPL career, but he has made it memorable by taking 13 wickets with an economy rate of 9. KKR still has four matches left in the league phase, and fans have high hopes for Karthik.
Looking at Karthik’s first-class career, he has taken 7 wickets in 7 innings across 4 matches, while in List A cricket, he has claimed 34 wickets in 20 matches. In T20 format, he has played 46 matches, taking 42 wickets at an average of 33.54.
Leave a Comment