Not the typical next-door budding cricket, Madhwal is a civil engineer for whom the sport was just a hobby. Watching him in the second half of this season, one would find it tough to believe that the 29 year old used to play tennis ball cricket until four years ago.
Coming off heartbreaking losses, the Indian Premier League game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab will be a test of character for both sides as they look to get back to winning ways, in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
A restructured Kings XI Punjab have all the required ingredients to achieve success in the upcoming IPL but they have to ensure that good starts are not squandered and their overseas combination is apt.
While Ishan Kishan has done well so far, Ruturaj Gaikwad (23, 1) has pulled the team down with questions being raised over his technique against quality pacers and his ability to force the pace early on.
India beat Ireland by 33 runs to win the second T20 International and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The returning Shikhar Dhawan will add more firepower to a ruthless India, who are faced with the problem of plenty, as they eye a clean sweep of West Indies in an inconsequential third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Team India will usher in a new era, which will begin with the ODI series against the West Indies, beginning, in Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
Will the young gun survive Virat Kohli's comeback?
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to be harsh on his bowlers, saying 'heavy dew' played a major role.
Shami was the standout bowler for the Kings XI Punjab, picking three wickets.
Images from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
Punjab Kings, who have been guilty of throwing it away in the past, are making a conscious effort to raise their game as the tournament progresses.
Will this (Rohit, KL Rahul and Kohli), be India's top three going into the T20 World Cup?
Seamers Shivam Dube (4/10) and Royston Dias (3/35) powered Mumbai's outright win over Bihar by an innings and 51 runs in their Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season opener in Patna on Monday.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Nicholas Pooran's whirlwind 62 from 19 balls powered Lucknow Super Giants to a memorable one-wicket victory off the last ball against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Up to five members of the T20 World Cup team, including the standbys, have never played in Australia's premier cricket league. Suryakumar Yadav, Harshal Patel (who travelled once with the U-19s in 2009), Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Hooda (who travelled once with the U-19s in 2013), and Ravi Bishnoi are the individuals mentioned. These matches could help them adjust.
Gujarat Titans won the battle of the debutants against Lucknow Super Giants by five-wickets with two balls to spare, with Rahul Tewatia guiding them home with a cracking 40 from 24 balls.
Images from the second Twenty20 International between India and the West Indies, in Kolkata, on Friday.
Images from the Under-19 World Cup final between India and Bangladesh, at Potchefstroom, on Sunday
Misfiring Indian bowlers in focus as India seek series-levelling win over SA in third T20I
How India's cricketers fared in the three-match T20I series against England.
Just when it looked like Punjab were sneaking back into the game, Glenn Maxwell came to the party.
Images from the IPL 2024 match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja could do with a break, which will allow India to try out new players in the Caribbean.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player of IPL 2023.
Washington will join Axar and KL Rahul at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation.
Be it the punch off the back foot off Mohammed Shami or a cracking drive through covers off Chris Jordan, 'Gabbar' was a sight to behold.
Rahul has the knack of scoring big when playing against RCB, his former team.
Both Prasidh and Avesh Khan lack variety and innovation as they keep pitching the ball at the same length. Both bowl in late 130s or early 140s but consistently pitch it back of the length and the nature of Indian tracks make it a cannon fodder for batters.
While Rohit Sharma will be eager to test his ultra-aggressive batting template against the Asian giants, for Virat Kohli it is the perfect platform to return to form after enduring a tough phase in the last few years.
A win for Punjab will elevate them to the top four, while a victory for KKR will take them to 14 points
India aim to seal series as Tilak Varma looks for quality batting time
India would be looking to sort out issues such as the opening blues, the middle-lower order conundrum and also the bowling strategies during the three-match T20 series against West Indies.
An expressionless Virat Kohli gave a quick handshake and hug to an equally expressionless Shubman Gill before going to collect his runners-up medal. It was the most poignant moment of a teary Sunday night for the Indian cricket team.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2023 after the league stage.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2023 after Game 61.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2023 after Game 42.
KXIP had finished the IPL 2020 season at the sixth spot under the leadership of KL Rahul. Punjab is yet to win the IPL title and the side has made it to the finals in 2014. But they suffered a loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Shivam Dube smashed a quickfire half-century to power India to a thumping six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the first T20 International.
