Mahesh Pithiya Biography: Wiki, Age, Role, Teams, Stats & More

Mahesh Pithiya, a young cricketer from Junagadh, Gujarat has been making headlines. He made his debut in the Baroda against UP in December 2022 and has quickly established himself as a promising talent. However, what sets him apart is his uncanny resemblance to Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling style. This has not only earned him recognition and appreciation from cricket fans and experts but has also caught the attention of the Australian cricket team.

Mahesh Pithiya in Australian camp as net bowler

The Australian team, preparing for the much-anticipated Border Gavaskar series starting on February 09, has roped in Mahesh to help them train better. The idea is to have a practice bowler who can mimic Ashwin’s style, thereby giving the Australian batsmen a chance to prepare for the series. This move by the Australian team showcases the high regard they have for Ashwin’s bowling skills and their determination to be better prepared for the series.

Interestingly, Mahesh himself did not know about Ashwin until he was 11 years old. It was during a India vs West Indies match in 2013 that he saw Ashwin play and instantly became his idol. This chance viewing of Ashwin’s game had a profound impact on Mahesh, inspiring him to take up cricket and pursue a career in the sport.

Mahesh Pithiya profile

Name	Mahesh Virambhai Pithiya
Age	21 Years
Date of Birth	24th December 2001
Hometown	Junagad, Gujarat
Role	Off spinner
Bowling style	Right-arm offbreak bowler
Teams	Baroda, Baroda U-19
Debut	First Class- Baroda vs UP (December 27-30, 2022) T20s- Baroda vs Andhra Pradesh (October 22, 2022)

Mahesh, who is not active on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, spoke about his admiration for Ashwin during an interview. He stated that Ashwin’s consistent performances and his ability to perform under pressure make him an inspiration for young cricketers like himself.

When Mahesh finally met his idol

Ahead of the first Test between India and Australia in Nagpur, Mahesh finally got a chance to meet his idol, Ravichandran Ashwin. It was an awestruck moment for the youngster, and he seemed pretty excited at that moment. Mahesh told the Indian Express,

“I had got Smith out at least six times in the nets on the first day and today I got blessings from my idol (Ashwin). I have always wanted to bowl like him. When I met him as he was entering the nets, I touched his feet and sought his blessings. He hugged me and then asked what exactly am I bowling to the Australians. Virat Kohli also smiled at me and gestured thumbs up and wished me luck.”

Having dismissed Steven Smith six times in the nets clearly depicts the quality this youngster possess. He surely has a great future ahead and could be in the radar of the national selectors anytime soon.