Ashay Palkar

Ashay Palkar is a cricketer with a story as compelling as his performances on the field. Emerging from Mumbai’s competitive age-group setup, he trained at the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation under Australian legend Dennis Lillee, earning a reputation as one of India’s brightest fast-bowling prospects. After narrowly missing out on a senior Mumbai cap, Palkar stepped away from the game to pursue an MBA, seemingly closing the door on professional cricket.

Yet fate had other plans. While working at Infosys in 2015, Palkar reignited his passion, training in the company’s campus and playing local selection matches. His commitment paid off, and after a mandatory three-year cooling-off period, he debuted for Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2018, immediately making an impact with an unbeaten 46 from 32 balls. His first-class debut followed that November, and he quickly announced himself with a string of match-winning spells, including successive five-wicket hauls against Assam and Tripura, and a seven-wicket effort against Odisha. He concluded that Ranji season with 25 wickets at 17.68, establishing himself as a genuine all-round force.

Palkar’s dominance continued post-COVID, highlighted by a stellar 2022/23 season where he not only claimed 20 wickets at 26.20 but also scored 421 runs at 52.62, including his maiden first-class century—one of only five players to average 50+ and take 20 wickets in the Ranji Trophy that season. Though slightly quieter in 2023/24, he still added to his career totals, now boasting 68 wickets at 28.19 alongside 692 runs at 26.61.

Across the globe, Palkar has also made his mark in UK club cricket. In the Drakes Huddersfield League, he dominated for Clayton West with 112 wickets at 15.84 and 2,204 runs at 55.10 across two seasons, including four centuries and a top score of 205*. Subsequent stints with Potterne and West Chiltington & Thakeham saw him continue to excel, helping his teams with both bat and ball while earning accolades in the West of England Premier League and Sussex League. A consummate professional, Palkar is set on returning to the UK in 2026, ready to make yet another impact wherever he plays.