Kamal Ghorui
Five-time champions Mumbai Indians slumped to their fourth successive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Thursday, continuing a worrying slide that has left them languishing at ninth in the 10-team IPL 2026 standings. Despite posting a competitive 195/6, powered by a sensational unbeaten 112 from Quinton de Kock, MI were comprehensively outplayed as Punjab Kings chased down the target in just 16.3 overs to seal a seven-wicket win.The defeat underlined the growing concerns in the Hardik Pandya-led camp, with little going right this season. After snapping a 14-year jinx by winning their opener, MI have managed just one win in five matches. Even spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has struggled, going wicketless so far — his longest such streak in T20 cricket.Amid the gloom, however, a new name quietly entered the MI playing XI — Mayank Rawat.A debut that barely made a rippleAt the toss, Pandya casually mentioned the inclusion: “We have a debutant, Mayank Rawat.” Yet, the announcement barely registered amid bigger talking points, including the absence of Rohit Sharma and de Kock opening the innings.Rawat’s debut turned out to be as low-key as the announcement. The 26-year-old walked in during the final over after the dismissal of Tilak Varma but did not face a single ball, ending on 0 not out. With the ball, the right-arm off-spinner wasn’t called upon either, as Punjab raced to victory with 21 balls to spare.It was a debut without a moment — rare in a league known for instant impact stories.The Mayank Rawat storyFor Rawat, though, the journey to this point has been anything but insignificant. A 26-year-old all-rounder from New Delhi, Rawat earned his chance after New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner missed out due to illness.A product of Delhi’s cricketing system, Rawat has steadily climbed the ranks, catching the attention of MI scouts through consistent performances in domestic circuits, particularly the Delhi Premier League. Picked at his base price of Rs 30 lakh in the auction, he suddenly found himself sharing a dressing room with stars like de Kock, Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar.Rawat’s cricketing roots trace back to 2011, when he began training under coach Rajesh Nagar. A promising talent early on, he made headlines in age-group cricket with knocks of 220 and 244, but consistent opportunities eluded him. Years of fluctuating form and limited chances followed, testing his persistence.His resurgence came through strong domestic performances, where he refined his all-round game and forced selectors to take notice.Thursday may not have given Rawat a moment to remember, but it marked the culmination of years of perseverance.
