Data Shorts: Tyagi 2.0

Kartik Tyagi's first introduction to the IPL in 2020 presented promising signs for the future. Nine wickets from 10 games suggested mixed returns, but he clocked high speeds consistently. That was three years after his first-class debut at 17, and in early 2020, he had bagged 11 wickets at 13.9 (ER: 3.45) in India's runners-up finish at the U19 World Cup. Then came a trip as a net-bowler to Australia during India's historic come-from-behind Test series win in 2020/21. During the second leg of the 2021 edition, he delivered a scarcely believable final over, successfully defending three while bowling to Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda and Fabian Allen.

However, persistent injuries limited his appearances across formats thereafter. He went unsold at the 2025 auctions, before KKR acquired him for INR 30 Lakhs in December. With Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora and Akash Deep in the squad, he would've been an unlikely starter in the playing XII. However, injuries to the former two paved the way, and the 25-year-old has led an injury-marred pace attack with distinction. Across his first five editions of participation, Tyagi managed 15 wickets from 20 outings at 47.53 (ER: 10.13). His 18 wickets in IPL 2026 are seven more than the next most by a KKR seamer (Vaibhav Arora's 11 at ER: 10.26).

Tyagi in the IPL (by editions)

Tyagi has had a decisive impact outside of the powerplay, his high speeds complementing the variations of their efficient spin-twins, before he leads the way at death. Largely down to those three, KKR have been the best bowling side from Overs 7 to 20 in the tournament, in terms of the averages (22.91), economy rate (8.47; next best: 9.35) and boundary percentage (17.47%). That has helped them overcome their shortcomings with the new ball. The three-time winners have been one of the worst bowling sides in the powerplay this season; they averaged 63.27 in the phase (ER: 10.54) heading into their penultimate league game.

They reduced MI to 46/4 after six overs on Wednesday; and Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Tyagi tightened it further thereafter, with the next eight overs yielding just 42 (38 off the bat). Tyagi dismissed Tilak Varma, who, despite his slow starts, has inflicted damage at the back end more than once in the tournament. An expensive last over somewhat ruined his returns, but KKR managed to limit MI to a sub-150 total on a pitch which challenged batters throughout the contest. This was best exemplified by the Jasprit Bumrah delivery that castled a well-set Manish Pandey – one with large seam movement from well outside the off stump to hit the top of middle – as late as in the 15th over of the chase.

Tyagi by phases in IPL 2026

Among quicks, only Prasidh Krishna and Jason Holder have delivered more overs in the middle-phase than Tyagi in the competition. Of the ones with a 10-over cut-off, his economy rate is second-best behind Holder and Jasprit Bumrah (6.8 for both). He has used the hard lengths to great effect, with over half of his deliveries in Overs 7-15 pitched in that zone. It's a role that Harshit Rana and Andre Russell played during KKR's victorious run in 2024, with Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora bowling the majority of powerplay overs then.

Tyagi by lengths in Overs 7-15 in IPL 2026

Full: 0/21, 15 balls, ER: 8.4

Good: 1/46, 39 balls, ER: 7.07

Short: 4/72, 61 balls, ER: 7.08

In addition, he has varied lengths and pace in the death overs much better compared to earlier editions. Between 2020 and 2024, having mimicked Brett Lee's bowling action in his formative years, the right-arm quick relied more on fuller length deliveries at the back end, with 53.6% of his deliveries pitched in that zone (27.2% good, 19.2% short). In IPL 2026, the corresponding numbers read: full 35.5%, good 26.6% and short 40.9%. The addition and execution of off-cutters (perhaps a Dwayne Bravo influence) adds to the variety. Between IPL 2020 and 2024, he had attempted just three slower ones across the 20.2 overs he'd delivered at death. In IPL 2026, he has got four wickets while delivering 34 of those across 18 overs (almost one-third).

The massive dip or rise in pace makes his variations highly potent. Point in case: the third ball of the 14th over to Hardik Pandya yesterday was delivered at 120.4 kmph, Hardik got a single, and Tilak was undone next ball by a 141 kmph short-pitched one. Later in the final over, Corbin Bosch got a single off a hard-length delivery at 139.9 kmph, and the speed dropped to 110.7 kmph next ball (similar length) to get him a wicket. Earlier in the tournament at Chepauk, Sanju Samson had hit him for a six off a 140.5 kmph back-of-a-length delivery over long off. He dropped his speed by 23.8 kmph next ball (117.7 kmph) to rattle his stumps. Against Dewald Brevis in the 18th over, he set the right-hander up going wide and full at 140.2 and 144 kmph, and eventually got the better of him via a slower one bowled at 116.5 kmph (similar line) – a 27.5 kmph drop in pace in successive balls.

A sixth win in seven games following a dismal start has allowed KKR to stay in the playoffs race, with their fate pretty much in MI's hands, who face RR in the penultimate league game. Should that result go their way, KKR would have a great chance to extend a stunning turnaround, akin to their 2014 and 2021 campaigns. Tyagi, Narine and Chakaravarthy had collectively returned 3/70 from 12 overs to set up a dominant win in the reverse fixture against DC. The Eden Gardens won't mind an encore.