The IPL has always been about spotting tomorrow before it arrives. Every season, there are names that quietly enter the conversation, and this year one of those is Akshat Raghuwanshi.
At just 22, the Madhya Pradesh batter has turned the MPL into his stage. He’s striking hard, playing fearless strokes, and delivering under pressure. His captain Venkatesh Iyer has called him one of the most talented young players he’s seen.
Gargi: A couple of seasons ago, you were just another young batter in the system. Today, people are talking about you ahead of the IPL auction. When did you feel that shift happened? Did you sense a moment where you thought, “Okay, now the eyes are on me”?
Akshat: I think it started two-three years ago, when we won the Ranji Trophy in 2022. That was my debut year, and I scored a hundred on Ranji debut. It started after that. I had a feeling that I could survive here, that I could do this.
Gargi: There’s been a lot of conversation around your strike rate. What impresses people is how composed you look while scoring fast. What brings that balance of freedom and responsibility at the crease? What’s your mindset when you’re playing fearless strokes but also protecting your wicket?
Akshat: When I play T20 cricket, I don’t think too much about my wicket. I think about the team. For example, I’m opening now and it’s the Power Play. My team’s goal is to get the best possible start. Even if we lose one or two wickets, it doesn’t matter as long as I give the team a strong start in the first six overs. That’s what the team demands from me, and I try to fulfil that, while also valuing my wicket.
Gargi: One of your signature shots is the no-look uppercut that everyone’s talking about. Is that instinctive, or something you’ve practised over and over in the nets?
Akshat: It’s not instinct. It’s practise. I couldn’t do it earlier. I’ve practised that shot a lot, with plastic balls and rubber balls, in the nets for a long time. Over time, it became a habit, and now it feels like instinct. It’s all muscle memory. You can’t just do it without practise.
Gargi: Your captain Venkatesh Iyer has spoken highly of you. What have you learned from sharing a dressing room with him?
Akshat: The biggest thing I’ve learned from him is how to handle pressure situations. If the game is slipping away, or if I’m not timing the ball well, he’s taught me how to stay calm. Instead of thinking, “I have to hit now,” you read the situation. You think about where the gaps are, how you can rotate strike, and how you can change the momentum. These discussions happen a lot in the dressing room, whether it’s with Venkatesh Iyer or Rajat Patidar. They guide you through those moments.
Gargi: Around this time of the year, there’s always chatter about IPL trials, scouts, and franchises. How do you make sure the outside noise doesn’t affect you?
Akshat: Honestly, even I don’t fully understand how to deal with it. It happens with everyone. I’ve been to trials for almost five or six teams. There’s a lot of travel, sometimes a trial at night, then you travel early the next morning for another one. It’s mentally exhausting and physically tiring. But there’s no other option, you just have to deal with it.
Gargi: When you walk out to bat, you might feel somewhere in the back of your mind that people are watching?
Akshat: All that disappears. You’re so focused on the ball that nothing else registers. It’s only later, when you’re sitting in a room quietly, that these thoughts come back. Who was watching? Who said what? That’s when the noise creeps in.
Gargi: At this point, what are your expectations from the mini auction?
Akshat: My only expectation is that someone picks me. That’s it. Once that happens, we’ll see what comes next.
Gargi: Let’s talk about preparation. With so many eyes on you now, what are the areas you’re consciously working on to level up?
Akshat: Right now, I’m working a lot on facing high-speed bowling. I’m comfortable against bowlers bowling around 135-140 kmph, but the ones who are faster, I haven’t faced much. So I’m practising from shorter distances and using sidearm throw-downs. I’m also working on bouncers and yorkers, trying to prepare myself for that next level.
Gargi: Are you enjoying the pressure that comes with big expectations, or are you trying to shut it out?
Akshat: You have to enjoy the pressure. In cricket, if you step back because of pressure, you can’t survive. Even at lower levels, there’s pressure to perform and maintain standards. And when the level is already high, the pressure is even more intense. People are always ready to say, “You were doing well there, but you can’t do it here.” You have to handle that. I try to enjoy the pressure and embrace whatever situation I’m in.
Gargi: Take us back to the start. Where did the love for cricket begin?
Akshat: It started at home. When I was around three years old, my father used to bring plastic and tennis balls for me. I’ve seen photos and videos, though I don’t remember much myself.
By the time I was eight or nine, I started going to the ground regularly. I’m from Ashok Nagar, and my father used to take me there. For three or four years, he taught me the basics of cricket. Everything I learned early on came from him.
Later, we realised there weren’t enough facilities in Ashok Nagar, just a cement wicket. So my family shifted to Indore so I could get better practice. My family has sacrificed a lot, especially my parents. Without them, I’d probably still be playing in Ashok Nagar.
Gargi: At this point in your career, how much does being in the IPL auction mean to you?
Akshat: It means everything to me. Even if I don’t get selected, it still means a lot. Selection isn’t entirely in my control. It depends on team requirements and how the auction goes. I’ve spoken to scouts, and they all say the same thing. No one can predict how the auction will unfold.
Watch the full interview here
EXCLUSIVE
“On the field, everything disappears.”
Rising talent #AkshatRaghuwanshi talks pressure, preparation, and the IPL mini-auction wait.@Wowmomo4u @gargiraut15 #IPL #IPLAuction #MiniAuction pic.twitter.com/EB27jkyqUl
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 16, 2025
Follow Revsportz for latest sports news
