Mumbai Indians handed a debut to Mayank Rawat in their IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium on April 16, 2026. The 26-year-old all-rounder may be a new name for many fans, but his journey to this stage carries some genuinely remarkable chapters.
Here is everything you need to know about the man MI have backed with a debut on home soil today.
Who Is Mayank Rawat?
Mayank Ram Rawat was born on December 4, 1999, in New Delhi. He is a batting all-rounder who plays for Delhi in domestic cricket and now represents Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Known for his aggressive right-handed batting and right-arm off-break bowling, Rawat first gained attention by breaking Gautam Gambhir’s long-standing school cricket record.
He is 26 years old and can contribute meaningfully with both bat and ball, making him a versatile option in a T20 squad.
Mayank Rawat’s Early Life and Background
Rawat hails from New Delhi and grew up playing age-group cricket in Delhi. Rawat represented the India Under-19 team, which remains his highest level of international representation to date.
According to available information, Rawat father’s name is Ram Rawat. Beyond this, detailed personal background about his family remains largely out of the public domain, as Rawat reportedly keeps his private life low-profile.
Mayank Rawat’s Record-Breaking School and Youth Cricket
This is where things get extraordinary. Rawat’s exploits in age-group and local cricket put him in rare company:
- Scored 309 runs off 86 balls in the Gaikwad Trophy Under-19 tournament in 2017 — the highest individual score in India in a limited-overs game at the time
- That innings included a record 37 sixes
- Scored an unbeaten 408 runs off just 139 balls in a 40-over local match in 2022
- These numbers, while coming in local formats, reflect a natural gift for big-hitting that can translate to any level
Mayank Rawat’s Domestic Cricket Career
First-Class Cricket
Rawat made his first-class debut for Delhi during the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season. His first-class record to date:
- Matches: 1
- Top score: 150 (century against Karnataka in 2019)
- Overs bowled in that appearance: 50, conceding 194 runs with no wickets taken
T20 Domestic Career
Rawat made his T20 debut for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh at Wankhede Stadium on November 23, 2024, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His overall T20 stats going into IPL 2026:
- Matches: 11
- Runs: 114
- Average: 28.50
- Strike Rate: 122.58
- Wickets: 5
Delhi Premier League Heroics
The DPL may be where Rawat truly put himself on the map. He played a pivotal role in East Delhi Riders’ title-winning campaign in the 2024 Delhi Premier League. His DPL 2024 stats:
- Matches: 10
- Runs: 289 in 7 innings
- Batting Average: 72.25
- Strike Rate: 190.13
- Half-centuries: 3
- Wickets: 11 in 9 innings
- Bowling Average: 16.64
- Economy Rate: 7.04
- Awards: Most Economical Bowler of the Match in multiple DPL games; Highest Sixes and Highest Fours in the DPL Season 1 final
Mayank Rawat’s IPL 2026 Journey With Mumbai Indians
How He Was Signed
- Bought by Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16, 2025
- IPL 2026 contract value: Rs 30 lakh per season
His MI Debut Today
Mumbai Indians handed Mayank Rawat his IPL debut against Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium on April 16, 2026. He joins experienced players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah in the MI dressing room.
According to reports, Rohit Sharma was unavailable for today’s match due to a hamstring injury, which may have opened the door for Rawat’s inclusion in the playing XI.
Key Career Stats at a Glance
First-Class Cricket
- Matches: 1
- Top score: 150
- Wickets: 0
T20 Domestic Cricket
- Matches: 11
- Runs: 114
- Average: 28.50
- Strike Rate: 122.58
- Wickets: 5
DPL 2024
- Matches: 10
- Runs: 289
- Average: 72.25
- Strike Rate: 190.13
- Wickets: 11
- Economy: 7.04
What Makes Mayank Rawat Special
Rawat can be described as a power-hitting all-rounder who can also contribute with handy off-spin. In the DY Patil T20 Cup in February 2026, playing for Reliance against a Shreyas Iyer-led BPCL side, he scored 63 runs off 32 balls and hit four sixes in a single over.
His ability to hit big and pick up wickets could make him a valuable lower-order asset for MI. Being in the same squad as Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya can only help accelerate his development at the top level.
Mayank Rawat’s debut today marks the beginning of what could be a significant chapter in his career. Whether he gets a chance to bat or bowl tonight, just being on the Wankhede turf in an MI jersey is a moment years in the making. Follow CricThugs for more.
Lucky Raina is a complete cricket writer chasing corporate dreams by day and cricket stories by night. Once a promising Under 16 cricketer, life took him down a different pitch but the love for the game never left.
