Mayank Markande’s astonishing performances in T20s, a break into the Indian national team just 14 months after his debut for Punjab, underscore the pitfalls of the ‘overnight sensation’ label that the Indian Premier League imposes on its young talents.
He made his debut for Punjab against Jammu & Kashmir in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January 2018, and in February 2019, Markande was given India’s T20I cap number 79 against Australia in Visakhapatnam. In between, he had a 15-wicket season with Mumbai Indians, bridging the two ends of the spectrum.
Markand gave away 31 runs without taking a wicket in four overs. Australia won the match by three wickets. Since then, the door of the Indian dressing room has been closed to Markand.
“I think I wasn’t very mature at that time. I came a little early. Obviously, I’ve always tried my best to find my place in the Indian team. I have to keep working in domestic cricket. And of course, if I keep working hard and take more wickets, I think I will get that chance,” Markande said.
Life changed in an instant in the IPL too. Mumbai Indians sent him to Delhi Capitals in exchange for Sherfane Rutherford, who then sent the leg-break bowler to Rajasthan Royals. He re-signed with Mumbai Indians for the 2022 season. After being off the charts in his debut season, his stock plummeted as his wickets dipped to 1, 0 and 1 in 2019, 2021 and 2022 respectively.
His re-calibration in domestic cricket for Punjab, now nearly four years in the making, is once again moulding him into the major leagues. A 22-wicket haul in seven games in the Ranji Trophy, which earned him selection in the 2023 Rest of India squad, was unfortunately thwarted by a finger injury.
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But Markande was once again praised as Punjab won their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. The leg-break bowler took 12 wickets at an economy of under eight runs. Apart from Markande, his teammates Abhishek Sharma, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh and Ramandeep Singh also made the case for selection in the Indian team.
“We have been playing together for a long time. Now, the boys have also gained some experience in the Indian Premier League. We have known each other and played together since age group cricket. So I think that has helped us play as a unit,” Markande said.
“You saw Abhishek Sharma debut this year. Obviously, we got a platform to perform and practice in Punjab. Training under Abhishkar Salvi sir for the last two years has been great. So, it was a combination of things that worked for us,” he said.
Markande added that Yuvraj Singh’s influence on the younger generation in the state has led to a surge in talent in the shortest format.
“He’s been an inspiration. At the start of every season, he comes to our practices and his input is invaluable. And when we need help, he’s always there for us,” he said.
Success in Punjab meant that Markande got a second chance to prove his worth in the IPL. He signed for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for Rs 5 crore in the 2023 auction and he repaid their faith by taking 12 wickets in seven innings at an economy of 7.89.
Markande’s scoring declined in 2024, but his team reached the final thanks to a strong opening partnership between compatriot Abhishek and Australian international Travis Head.
“Definitely the leadership has changed our whole momentum. The coaching part as well. So Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins have completely changed the scenario for us. You saw Travis Head and Abhishek being given the freedom to attack from the start. They sent a message early on that you have our support. Just go and express yourself,” Markande said.
“Honestly, I really enjoyed his (Cummins) captaincy. As I said, he supported you till the end. If you were going for runs, he would support you. All he wanted was a wicket, no matter what it cost. He never pressured you to give away fewer runs or bowl in a certain way. He told you to just worry about getting wickets,” he added.
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The only major flaw throughout the season was SRH’s failure to plug the gap in the spin department and find the ideal combination. Markande also failed to live up to his billing, returning eight wickets in seven matches and conceding more than 11 overs.
One of his sticking points was the Impact Player rule, which added a 12th player to every bowling unit. The rule came under heavy scrutiny for tilting the game in favor of batsmen and causing run rates to skyrocket throughout the season.
“Impact Players may be good for the spectators and TV viewers. They provide entertainment. But as a bowler, I don’t think (it’s good). The wicket is too sure and it doesn’t help. And on top of that, it gives you one more batsman. So there’s really nothing left for the bowlers. So I think it should be done away with,” Markande said.
But Markande played 33 first-class matches, went through tough times and eventually came back to his roots in cricket.
In a game that is constantly evolving, with limited overs to contend with every day, the key for bowlers to still maintain their place is to play their craft in domestic cricket, especially first-class cricket. “It builds mental toughness,” he said.
“Actually, after a certain point, it’s more important to be mentally strong than to focus on tactics. Tactically, you’re used to that kind of thing. But you still have to be mentally strong enough to stay ahead of the game and your opponent. That’s going to help you more,” he said.
“It becomes important. You learn a lot about yourself and bowling. The more you bowl, the more you know what works for you and what doesn’t,” Markande concluded.
