In the 21st match of the IPL 2023, Punjab Kings gave a golden opportunity to young and talented cricketer Atharva Taide as he made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants. However, his debut did not go as planned — Atharva was dismissed for a duck. His next outing against Royal Challengers Bangalore also didn’t bring much success. But true to the spirit of cricket, comebacks often define a player more than failures. Against the mighty Mumbai Indians, Atharva Taide silenced critics with a blistering knock of 29 runs in just 12 balls, helping Punjab post a strong total and ultimately secure a victory.
This glimpse of brilliance wasn’t overnight. Like many young Indian cricketers, Atharva Taide's story is rooted in struggle, hard work, and unwavering dedication.
Early Life and Background
Born on April 26, 2000, in Aula, Maharashtra, Atharva’s cricketing dream began in the heart of rural India. His father, Atit Tende, works in Maharashtra, while his mother is a homemaker. Unlike other children who were fascinated with toys, Atharva showed early signs of his cricketing love by playing only with plastic bats.
Atharva completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton School and pursued higher education at Dr. Ambedkar College. Right from childhood, cricket was the only sport he cared about. Recognizing his passion, his father enrolled him in a local cricket academy and supported him every step of the way. Atharva trained rigorously at the Akola Cricket Club, balancing school and cricket practice with admirable discipline. He would carry his school uniform and shoes to the cricket club and head directly to school after practice.
Rise Through Domestic Cricket
Atharva’s dedication soon bore fruit. He was selected to play in the Under-15 tournaments, where he made a mark with impressive performances. His domestic cricket journey began to flourish when he made his List A debut for Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on 20 September 2018. Just three months later, he made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy on 22 December 2018.
His T20 debut came in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on 21 February 2019, where he showcased his explosive batting by scoring 338 runs in 8 matches, with a top score of 95. In List A cricket, he accumulated 668 runs, with an unbeaten 165 as his best score. In domestic T20s, he has scored 507 runs, including a highest of 56.
In December 2019, Atharva was also selected to represent India in the Asia Cup (Under-19 SSC Imagine Team), highlighting his rising status in Indian youth cricket.
Entry into the IPL
Impressed by his consistent domestic performances, Punjab Kings picked Atharva Taide in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction at his base price of Rs. 20 lakhs. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to play that season. His break finally came in IPL 2023 after Shikhar Dhawan’s injury, and even though his debut match was disappointing, his fiery knock against Mumbai showed the potential he holds.
A Star in the Making
Atharva Taide has not had many opportunities in the IPL so far, but the glimpses of talent he has displayed suggest he has a bright future ahead. With the right guidance and more match exposure, Atharva could very well become a consistent performer in the IPL and even dream of donning the Indian jersey someday.
Atharva Taide’s journey is a tale of perseverance, passion, and patience. From a small village to the grand stage of IPL, he embodies the dream of every aspiring cricketer in India. With grit and determination as his strengths, the day isn’t far when this young left-handed batter makes headlines across the cricketing world.