Indian cricket was looking laborious for quick bowlers initially of the 2000s when a tall, wiry Mumbai fast abruptly appeared with one thing immediately recognisable about him. The upright method, excessive bowling arm and economical motion bore such a resemblance to Glenn McGrath that comparisons with the Australian nice adopted nearly instantly. Up to date experiences described the motion as “McGrath-esque” and even “nearly similar”, whereas the younger pacer had himself studied and modelled points of his bowling on McGrath.
The resemblance may need attracted consideration, however the wickets ensured it was not merely a curiosity. A 2002-03 Ranji Trophy season introduced 28 wickets from solely six matches, earlier than an India A tour of the Caribbean produced a rare 29 wickets, together with three five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket match haul. In opposition to Jamaica, the figures have been 5/39 in an innings and 10/134 within the match. By the point India returned from the 2003 World Cup, the quick bowler who had been among the many event’s 30 provisional probables was abruptly knocking laborious on the senior staff’s door.
An ODI debut adopted in April 2003 and instantly introduced 2/15 from seven overs. Six months later, choice for India’s Check squad towards New Zealand got here, with modern experiences even suggesting that the rookie may associate Zaheer Khan forward of Lakshmipathy Balaji. By November, the selectors had gone additional: the 22-year-old was chosen for India’s four-Check tour of Australia, the collection that will ultimately function Sourav Ganguly’s Brisbane hundred, Rahul Dravid’s Adelaide epic and Ajit Agarkar’s well-known six-wicket haul. The younger fast was imagined to be a part of it.
Aavishkar Salvi by no means reached Australia. An acute shoulder damage suffered whereas taking part in towards Australia at Eden Gardens compelled him out of the tour solely days after his choice. That match grew to become his fourth and ultimate ODI for India, leaving one of the crucial quickly promoted quick bowlers of his era with a world profession consisting of simply 4 matches and 4 wickets.
From chemical engineering to the India staff
Salvi’s rise was uncommon even earlier than the wickets started arriving. He took cricket critically comparatively late, at round 18, whereas finding out for a diploma in chemical engineering. When choice for Mumbai’s Underneath-19 facet created a alternative between training and cricket, his household gave him two years to show that the sport may grow to be a viable profession.
A 21-day teaching camp carried out by former England quick bowler Frank Tyson grew to become pivotal. Salvi later described it because the turning level of his profession, crediting Tyson with bettering his motion, accuracy and consistency. Former Mumbai captain and quick bowler Paras Mhambrey additionally labored extensively with him, notably on using his entrance arm, as Salvi developed right into a bowler able to producing tempo and bounce whereas sustaining the management that had fuelled the McGrath comparisons.
The progress was speedy. Salvi made his first-class debut for Mumbai throughout the 2001-02 season, and the 28 wickets in six Ranji matches the next marketing campaign moved him into nationwide competition. India then despatched him with the A facet to the West Indies, the place his 29 wickets reworked promise right into a compelling choice argument. Interim India A coach Ashok Malhotra regarded him as one of many finds of the tour, whereas Salvi’s 10-wicket match towards Jamaica stood out as the height of a vastly productive journey.
India had already included him amongst 30 provisional gamers for the 2003 World Cup, however Salvi didn’t make the ultimate 15 that reached the ultimate in South Africa. His Caribbean performances quickly introduced one other alternative. With Javagal Srinath rested after the World Cup and Ashish Nehra unavailable by damage, Salvi was known as into the ODI squad for a triangular event in Bangladesh involving India, Bangladesh and South Africa.
His India debut on April 11, 2003, was additionally Gautam Gambhir‘s first ODI. Sourav Ganguly gave Salvi the brand new ball towards Bangladesh, and the newcomer struck in his opening over when Mehrab Hossain was trapped leg-before for a duck. Mohammad Ashraful adopted for 5, caught by Virender Sehwag at slip, as Salvi completed with 2/15 from seven overs and India bowled Bangladesh out for 76.
Salvi performed three matches in that event, taking 4 wickets at a mean of 24. In opposition to South Africa, his tight opening spell helped scale back the opposition to early hassle, whereas India coach John Wright publicly described him as an “excellent prospect” who had added considerably to India’s fast-bowling depth. With Australia as a result of host India later that 12 months, Wright was already discussing Salvi as a part of the group of seamers who may succeed outdoors the subcontinent.
Check cricket appeared even nearer. India chosen Salvi for the primary Check towards New Zealand at Ahmedabad in October 2003, leaving out the extra skilled Agarkar. One modern choice report urged Salvi was extra possible than Balaji to accompany Zaheer within the XI. Ganguly ultimately selected Balaji, who made his Check debut alongside Aakash Chopra, leaving Salvi among the many reserves.
The subsequent Check introduced the primary merciless interruption. Throughout follow earlier than the Mohali match, Salvi cut up the webbing of his proper hand badly sufficient to require stitches. India changed him within the squad with Agarkar. What may have been one other probability at a Check debut disappeared earlier than the match started.
Salvi recovered rapidly sufficient to return for Mumbai within the Ranji Trophy and instantly confirmed why India remained . In opposition to Baroda on the Wankhede in November, he took 5/42, eradicating Connor Williams, Jacob Martin and ultimately Nayan Mongia for 74. Salvi admitted afterwards that the upcoming Australian tour was behind his thoughts. The efficiency may hardly have been timed higher.
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On November 16, India’s selectors named their squad for the 4 Assessments in Australia. Salvi was in it, alongside Zaheer, Nehra, Agarkar and one other younger quick bowler whose worldwide journey was solely starting, Irfan Pathan. The choice represented maybe the most important alternative of Salvi’s profession: Australian pitches appeared ideally suited to the bounce and management that had pushed the McGrath comparisons.
Two days later, every thing modified. India confronted Australia within the TVS Cup ultimate at Eden Gardens on November 18. Salvi managed solely three overs, conceding 23 runs, after struggling what was identified as an acute shoulder sprain. Staff physio Andrew Leipus anticipated him to be unable to play aggressive cricket for at the least 4 weeks. Balaji was summoned to take his place on the airplane to Australia.
The results grew to become a lot bigger than anybody may have recognized that night. Balaji travelled to Australia, whereas Pathan made his Check debut throughout the collection. India drew 1-1 in one in all their most celebrated abroad campaigns. Salvi, in the meantime, by no means performed one other match for the senior Indian staff.
Harm issues repeatedly disrupted the profession that adopted. He returned to Mumbai and remained a helpful home seamer, however the extraordinary momentum of 2002 and 2003 was gone. By the tip of his first-class profession, Salvi had nonetheless assembled respectable numbers: 169 wickets from 62 matches at 25.72, together with seven five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match. His 52 Record A appearances introduced one other 71 wickets.
There was, nevertheless, one splendidly uncommon McGrath-related postscript. Salvi joined Delhi Daredevils within the IPL and performed repeatedly for them in 2009. Glenn McGrath was a part of the identical squad, however didn’t play a single match that season as Delhi most popular combos involving Dirk Nannes and Indian seamers, together with Salvi, Ashish Nehra and Pradeep Sangwan. The younger bowler whose motion had as soon as been in contrast endlessly with McGrath’s was, for a short interval, stepping into the XI whereas McGrath himself sat outdoors it.
Salvi’s taking part in profession ultimately ended after the 2012-13 home season, however cricket provided him a significantly longer second innings. He moved into teaching, initially working with Puducherry earlier than taking assignments with Oman and later Punjab. In 2023, he coached Punjab to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, ending a three-decade await a senior home trophy.
His journey has since introduced him again into the Indian setup in a task far faraway from the four-ODI profession that when appeared sure to grow to be far more. Salvi grew to become bowling coach of the India ladies’s staff and was a part of the assist employees when India gained the Girls’s ODI World Cup in 2025. He stays related to the facet as bowling coach in 2026.
For a short interval in 2003, nevertheless, the chances had seemed very totally different. Salvi had taken 29 wickets for India A within the Caribbean, impressed on his ODI debut, entered India’s Check squad after which earned choice for one of the crucial vital Australian excursions within the nation’s historical past. At 22, the bowler whose motion had made McGrath an unavoidable reference level appeared to have arrived at exactly the second India have been constructing a brand new era of quick bowlers.
A cut up webbing value him one potential Check alternative. A shoulder damage value him the flight to Australia. The ODI by which that second damage occurred grew to become his final for India, leaving the person as soon as considered one of many nation’s excellent fast-bowling prospects with a world profession of 4 matches.
