Delhi Capitals handed Madhav Tiwari a surprise chance in their must-win IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Monday, and the 21-year-old marked it with his first wicket in the league. Tiwari, back for his first appearance of the season, dismissed Priyansh Arya after a brief but punishing innings.
Arya made 56 off 33 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes before Tiwari found the breakthrough. It was also the first time the youngster bowled in the IPL in 2026, adding a new layer to a season in which Delhi Capitals made five changes to their playing XI to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tiwari’s rise has been built away from the spotlight. Born on September 28, 2003, in Mauganj village in Madhya Pradesh, he came through the state setup at the U-19 and U-23 levels and featured in the 2024-25 CK Nayudu Trophy, where he scored two half-centuries. One of those innings was an 83 against Mumbai when Madhya Pradesh were struggling at 183/6 while following on.
Delhi Capitals bought him for INR 40 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction and retained him for the 2026 season after he made his debut last year against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. On that occasion, he batted at No. 8, scored three runs and was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. He did not bowl in that match.
He has also made an impact in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, where he played for Bhopal Leopards alongside Aniket Verma under Arshad Khan’s captaincy. Tiwari scored 108 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 180, including a 31-ball 65 in the semi-final against Rewa Jaguars that helped Bhopal reach the final.
For Delhi, the wicket in Dharamsala was more than a footnote in a reshuffled side. Tiwari is still waiting for his First-Class and List-A debuts, but Monday’s spell showed why the franchise has kept faith with him. In a season built on urgency, he gave them a reason to keep looking his way.
