Mayank Markande is an Indian cricket player who plays for the Punjab state team and IPL team Mumbai Indians. He was born on 11 November 1997 in the Bhatinda district of Punjab. Mayank has represented the India U19 and Punjab U16 and U19 teams. He is a right handed batsman and right arm leg spinner.
The prolific bowler idolizes spinner Shane Warne and has 59 wickets from 17 appearances for the state team. He was a part of the 2006 U19 World Cup squad but didn’t quite manage to get an international cap. Markande made his T20 debut against Jammu and Kashmir in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on 14 January 2018. He bowled four overs at an economy of 5.25 and bagged a wicket as well. Punjab lost the match by 23 runs but Mayank caught the eyes of the people. His List-A debut was against Haryana in the Group-A Vijay Hazare Trophy match held on 7 February 2018. Mayank was quite economic with his ten over spell as he took two wickets, giving away just 37 runs. It was an unlucky debut for Mayank and his team as Haryana won by 2 wickets to spare from 1 ball. Playing for Punjab with likes of spinner Harbhajan Singh can weigh heavily on a 22-year old, but Mayank has shown beautiful skills with the ball and has taken 33 wickets from 31 innings in the T20s format. He has done fairly well in the longer over matches, taking 64 wickets from 38 matches in List A, with a hat-trick against Assam on 13 February 2018.
Mayank’s domestic performance has been noteworthy, especially in the limited overs format, and he was thus selected by Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL auction for Rs. 20 lacs which was held in January before his List-A debut came. Mayank Markande had a dream debut for the Mumbai Indians, picking up 3-23 against the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018. After he a mediocre 2019 season, he was let go by the franchise for the 2020 season.
Mayank Markande was the first player to be traded twice in the Indian Premier League (IPL) transfer window. He was first traded from Mumbai Indians to Delhi Capitals and from there to Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2020. With back-to-back T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, Markande is hopeful of a strong IPL 2020 for Rajasthan Royals as it will put him back in the reckoning for the Indian team. The 22-year-old must be looking forward to learning from star players like Steve Smith and Ben Stokes and is hopeful of making a significant contribution.
After Mayank wrapped up the England Lions with an impressive fifer for India A early in 2019, he received the proof of his ever-rocketing stocks - a maiden call up for the national T20I side against the touring Australians, a selection which even by his own admission was an out of the blue surprise. He made his T20I debut for India against Australia on 24 February 2019. India lost the match and Markande couldn't pick any wicket in his quota of 4 overs.
Since early childhood, he developed an interest in cricket and when he was 8 years old, he joined a cricket academy in 2006. Mayank wanted to become a pacer initially, but his coaches suggested him to become a spinner due to his body, and lack of pace. According to India wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra, cricketer Harbhajan Singh provided Mayank with the opportunity to showcase his talent.
