Mahesh Rawat

Mahesh Rawat is a run-scoring machine who has dominated cricket, both home and abroad, for well over a decade.

Since his domestic debut for Haryana (November 2003), the former India A gloveman has played 244 matches across the three formats where he has racked up 8,627 runs with 15 hundreds and 55 fifties to include 5,941 runs at 37.84 in 115 first-class matches.

Throughout his illustrious career, the veteran gloveman has skippered Railways and has been one of Ranji Trophy’s finest wicket-keeper batter. In November 2016, Rawat was strongly considered to replace Wriddhiman Saha for the England test series, but instead, selectors favoured Parthiv Patel. Whilst statistically, Rawat's numbers suggest his preferred format is first-class, prior to the NatWest T20 Blast he was ranked the World's 4th leading T20 run-scorer in 2017 (328 runs at 82), so clearly, he excels across the formats.

Rawat has played the majority of his 115 first-class matches for Railways, with whom he has legendary status. Over 86 matches, he has scored 4,499 runs at 38.45 with 10 of his 14 first-class hundreds. Rawat has been one of the highest run-scoring gloveman in Ranji Trophy cricket. He has averaged over 40 in eight of his past 15 seasons.

His best Ranji season came in 2013/14 scoring 820 runs at 68.33 with 3 hundreds, including his career-best 188. That said, his 2018/19 summer wasn't too bad either, with 478 runs at 53.11 with 2 centuries.

Courtesy of his domestic exploits, Rawat has represented the North and Central Zones and also featured in 1 first-class match for India A. He has also played three IPL editions for Rajasthan Royals (2008-09) and Pune Warriors (2013) respectively. Unfortunately, he hasn't played over the past three years, which has paved way for UK league cricket.

Following a short stint with Hetton Lyons (NEPL) in 2016 (217 runs at 43.40 and 6 wickets at 14.50), he has excelled for Ashtead (Surrey Championship) in 2017 (880 runs at 67.69 and 10 wickets at 15.20) and Middleton (Sussex Premier League) in 2018 (1,009 runs at 100.90), 2019 (1,041 runs at 148.71), 2021 (810 runs at 115.71), and 2022 (1,208 runs at 67.11), respectively.

Over the past five seasons, he has been an absolute run machine. He topped arguably the UK's strongest ECB Premier League (Surrey Championship) hitting 880 runs at 67.69, in a division littered with County and professional cricketers. He was hugely influential in Ashtead's top-order finish, winning several games of his own bat. When not donning the gloves, Rawat starred with the ball, taking 10 wickets at 15.20 in the 35 overs bowled.

Rawat returned in 2018 and the trend continued, breaking the one thousand run mark - 1,009 runs at 100.90 with 6 fifties and 4 hundreds. Such was his dominance, Rawat was only dismissed 10 times throughout his 18 matches, in another league flooded with County stars. Courtesy of his success, Middleton re-signed the Ranji run machine and he repaid the faith with another 1,000 plus runs to top the Premier Division run charts with a quite remarkable average of 148.71.

After a season's hiatus owing to COVID, Rawat returned for a third Middleton stint in 2021 and the trend continued with 810 runs at 115.71 with 3 further centuries. Unsurprisingly, Rawat was at it again last summer (2022), chalking up another 1,000 plus run tally (1,208 runs at 67.11) to finish amongst the top run churners in not only the Sussex League, but country.

Incredibly, during his 4-season stint for Middleton, the Indian sensation has played 72 1st XI matches, scored 3,784 runs with an average of 99.58. He has 24 fifties and 12 hundreds. When not donning the gloves, he has been an effective off-spinner, with 22 wickets at 24.76 including 1 five-wicket haul (5/46).

He is, without doubt, one of league cricket's best professionals owing to his unrivaled run-scoring record in recent years and he is set for yet another Middleton stint in 2023.