da imperador bet： Three years after winning the Under-19 World Cup, left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal looks ready for the red-ball grind

da lvbet： Deivarayan Muthu01-Sep-2025He was India’s highest wicket-taker during their run to the 2022 Under-19 World Cup title in the Caribbean. He was also impressive with both ball and bat in the 2025 Maharashtra Premier League (MPL). He has been with Delhi Capitals (DC) as a reserve player in the IPL for three seasons and is now preparing to make the step-up across formats. His Maharashtra captain Ankit Bawne introduced him as a “future star” to reporters in Chennai during the Buchi Babu tournament last month. Get acquainted with 23-year-old left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal.Just weeks after winning the Under-19 World Cup in February 2022, Ostwal was fast-tracked into Maharashtra’s Ranji Trophy side. But he needed more time to mature and adapt to red-ball cricket in particular. After making occasional appearances for Maharashtra since, Ostwal is now staking his claim for a more regular spot this season.Having emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the Under-23 CK Nayudu tournament, Ostwal came away as Maharashtra’s highest wicket-taker in the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament as well, with 13 strikes in two games at an average of 17.23 and economy rate of 2.64. He credits the Under-23 tournament for bridging the gap between Under-19 cricket and the Ranji Trophy.Related

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“It’s always a process for a spinner to make a spot in the team,” Ostwal told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. “I’m still fighting for it. I’ve played five Ranji games on and off, but the CK Nayudu has been my core after that Under-19 World Cup. Whatever I play – CK Nayudu or Ranji – the aim is to make Maharashtra win. Playing for Maharashtra is a [matter of] prestige. The aim is always to win trophies for Maharashtra.”Hailing from Lonavala, a hill station on the Mumbai-Pune highway, Ostwal used to travel to Mumbai to hone his skills at the Vengsarkar Academy in Churchgate. But after he realised that he was ineligible to play tournaments in Mumbai (only players born in the city can play MCA tournaments), he tried to build a career in Maharashtra. He again commuted in crowded trains for hours on a daily basis from Lonavala to Pune, where he joined the Varroc Vengsarkar Academy.”That journey is something special,” Ostwal recalled. “Because it showed me how passionate I was about cricket and how badly I wanted to play cricket. My dad used to support me during all these travels. When I look back at it, I feel very nice and special about it. The hard work is all paying off now.”Ostwal is a tall fingerspinner like R Sai Kishore and when on song, he keeps the stumps in play like his idol Ravindra Jadeja. He has the ability to bowl long spells, something that was on display during his Ranji debut against Vidarbha in Sultanpur in 2022, when he wheeled away for 44 overs.Vicky Ostwal has spent three seasons with Delhi Capitals in the IPL•BCCI”As a spinner, bowling long spells is your job,” Ostwal said. “You have to hold one end tight, make things happen and make them [batters] play a rash shot. Every first-class spinner that has been successful in India holds one end up tightly and brings crucial wickets at crucial times. That’s what I want to do for Maharashtra as well.”Ostwal didn’t get a game at DC across three seasons in the IPL, but he used the training sessions to pick the brains of Axar Patel and Ricky Ponting.”The game sense improved after the IPL,” Ostwal said. “You can be a little bit ahead of the game and sometimes read the situations quite early and then get into the act earlier. That helps you be proactive.”And bowling to Rishabh Pant was the most difficult thing as a left-arm spinner. Axar gave me tips on Test bowling and T20 bowling, which I’m able to implement. Ricky Ponting sir also helped me during my three years with Delhi Capitals. So, all in all, it was a good time there.”In the recent MPL, Ostwal strengthened his T20 credentials with his accurate bowling and pinch-hitting at the top of the order for Raigad Royals in their run to the final. He picked up nine wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 7.09 – the best among bowlers who had bowled more than 30 overs during the season.

“I have worked a lot on my batting over the past few years because being a spinner doesn’t always do the job for your team.”Vicky Ostwal

Midway through the tournament, Ostwal was promoted as an opener and he responded with 74 off 54 balls in the Eliminator against Kolhapur Tuskers. Ostwal has ambitions of becoming a proper allrounder in the future.”I have worked a lot on my batting over the past few years because being a spinner doesn’t always do the job for your team,” he said. “If you can contribute 30-40 runs down the order, it’s always a great help for the team.”About the T20 game [Eliminator], I think when my team wasn’t doing well up the order, I told my coach that I can go up the order and maybe smack a few and give the momentum to the team. I want to be an allrounder. Even in the CK Nayudu Trophy, I contributed with the bat, scoring hundreds at No. 6 or No. 7.”Having enjoyed success in Under-19 and Under-23 cricket, the higher levels are waiting for Ostwal now.