five time champion mumbai indians Falling into a four-game losing streak in ongoing games indian premier league On Thursday, they continued their worrying slide that has left them ninth in the 10-team IPL 2026 table. Despite posting a competitive 195/6, powered by a shocking unbeaten 112 Quinton de KockMI were comprehensively beaten and Kings XI Punjab chased down the target in just 16.3 overs to seal a 7-wicket win.The defeat highlighted growing concerns in the Hardik Pandya-led camp, which has made little progress this season. After winning their first match to break a 14-year jinx, MI managed just one win in five matches. Spearhead Jasprit Bumrah He has been struggling so far, without a wicket – his longest streak in T20 cricket.However, amidst the gloom, a new name quietly entered the MI starting lineup—— Mayank Rawat.Debut made few ripplesDuring the toss, Pandya casually mentioned this: “We have a rookie, Mayank Rawat.” However, the announcement barely sparked a larger discussion, including the lack of Rohit Sharma De Kock starts.Rawat’s debut was also as low-key as announced. The 26-year-old came on in the last match after Tilak Varma was dismissed but did not face a single ball and ended up with 0 runs instead of out. After getting the ball, the right-arm spinner was also not called and Punjab won by 21 balls.It was a debut without moments — a rarity in a league known for stories of instant impact.Mayank Rawat’s StoryHowever, for Rawat, the journey to this point has been anything but trivial. Rawat, a 26-year-old all-rounder from New Delhi, earned his chance after New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner was ruled out due to illness.A product of the Delhi cricket system, Rawat has steadily risen through the ranks, catching the attention of Cricket Association scouts through consistent performances in the domestic circuit, particularly the Delhi Premier League. Selected at the auction for a base price of Rs 30 lakh, he suddenly found himself sharing a dressing room with stars such as de Kock, Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar.Rawat’s cricketing roots date back to 2011 when he started training under coach Rajesh Nagar. He was a promising talent in his early years, making headlines in age-group cricket with wickets of 220 and 244, but he never got a chance. The following years were characterized by instability and limited opportunities, which tested his perseverance.His resurgence came with strong domestic performances where he improved his all-round ability and forced the selectors to take notice.Thursday may not have given Rawat a memorable moment, but it marked the culmination of years of persistence.
