Menu

Akshay Karnewar

Akshay Karnewar is an Indian cricketer known for his unusual ability to bowl spin with both hands, a skill that brought him into wider notice during his appearances in Indian domestic cricket. He represents Vidarbha in domestic competitions organised under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Key facts

Name Akshay Karnewar
Nationality Indian
Sport Cricket
Role Bowler (ambidextrous spinner)
Domestic team Vidarbha
Bowling style Right-arm off break and slow left-arm orthodox

Background

Karnewar comes from the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and developed through the state's age-group and senior cricket structures. He progressed through the Vidarbha Cricket Association's pathway before earning selection to the senior side that competes in BCCI tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Playing style

Karnewar is one of a small number of contemporary cricketers capable of bowling effective spin with either arm. He typically uses right-arm off-spin against left-handed batters and slow left-arm orthodox against right-handers, allowing his captain to manipulate match-ups without changing bowlers. This versatility has been the defining feature of his cricketing identity.

Career

Karnewar made his senior debut for Vidarbha in domestic limited-overs cricket and went on to feature in first-class and Twenty20 fixtures for the side. He was part of the Vidarbha squad during a period in which the team established itself among the leading sides in Indian domestic cricket, including their Ranji Trophy successes in the late 2010s.

Domestic competitions

  • Ranji Trophy – first-class championship of India.
  • Vijay Hazare Trophy – domestic List A 50-over tournament.
  • Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Significance

Karnewar's ambidextrous bowling has drawn attention to the tactical possibilities of such bowlers in modern cricket, where match-up considerations between bowler and batter increasingly influence selection and field placement. He is frequently cited as one of the few practitioners of two-handed spin bowling in Indian senior cricket.

References