Anuj Rawat
Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
DOB: 17 October 1999
IPL Team (2026): Royal Challengers Bangalore
Base Price: INR 20 Lakhs (Estimated)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 44 | 37 | 8 | 598 | 66 | 20.62 | 444 | 134.68 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 31 | 19 |
| 2026 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 30 | 20.00 | 45 | 133.33 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 180 | 55 | 22.50 | 130 | 138.46 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 138 | 48* | 23.00 | 95 | 145.26 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 6 |
| 2023 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 91 | 42* | 22.75 | 65 | 140.00 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 129 | 66 | 16.12 | 109 | 118.34 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Story of Anuj Rawat
Hailing from Delhi, Anuj Rawat is a dynamic left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who first caught the cricketing world’s eye with his aggressive strokeplay in domestic circuits. A product of Delhi’s robust age-group cricket, Rawat quickly climbed the ranks, showcasing a fearless approach that belied his young age. His journey to the IPL wasn’t immediate, but it was marked by a steady progression, honing his skills behind the stumps and with the bat, always with an eye on the big stage.
Rawat’s IPL breakthrough truly began when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) invested heavily in him at the 2022 mega-auction. Prior to that, he had a stint with Rajasthan Royals in 2020 but didn’t get a game. At RCB, he was tasked with a challenging role, often opening or batting in the middle order, and keeping wickets. His defining moment came in IPL 2022 against Mumbai Indians, where he smashed a scintillating 66 off just 47 balls, showcasing his ability to take on quality pace and spin with equal disdain. This knock, filled with powerful drives and audacious pulls, announced his arrival as a serious contender.
Anuj’s playing style is characterized by his natural attacking instincts. He possesses a strong bottom-hand game, allowing him to generate immense power, particularly through the leg side. While he can play the anchor role, his true value often lies in his ability to accelerate quickly, making him a dangerous proposition in the powerplay or as a finisher. His wicketkeeping has also been tidy, providing RCB with a reliable option behind the stumps. He’s a modern T20 cricketer – athletic, versatile, and always looking to make an impact.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Anuj Rawat’s IPL journey began in 2020 when he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for his base price of INR 20 Lakhs. Despite being part of the squad for two seasons (2020 and 2021), he did not get an opportunity to feature in any match and was subsequently released by the franchise.
His fortunes changed dramatically in the 2022 mega-auction. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) showed immense faith in his potential, securing his services for a significant sum of INR 3.4 Crores. This marked a pivotal moment in his career. In IPL 2022, he played 8 matches, scoring 129 runs including his maiden IPL fifty. RCB retained him for the 2023 season, where he played 9 matches, often coming in as an Impact Player, and contributed 91 runs with a higher strike rate. His role evolved further in 2024, featuring in 10 matches and providing crucial cameos. For the 2025 and 2026 seasons, RCB has continued to back him, utilizing his explosive batting and wicketkeeping skills, cementing his place as a valuable squad member.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting standpoint, Anuj Rawat is a fascinating prospect, especially given his evolving role. His primary strength lies in his aggressive left-handed batting, particularly against pace. He has a knack for finding boundaries early in his innings, making him a decent bet for ‘Over 0.5/1.5 Fours’ or ‘To Hit a Six’ props, especially on flat pitches or smaller grounds where he can leverage his power. His strike rate, which has consistently hovered around 130-145 in recent seasons, indicates his intent to score quickly, which is valuable for ‘Total Runs’ markets if he gets a decent number of balls.
However, Rawat’s inconsistency can be a weakness. He often plays crucial cameos but struggles to convert starts into big scores, as evidenced by his two fifties in 37 innings. This makes betting on ‘Player to Score 30+/50+’ a higher risk, unless he’s batting higher up the order and in a rich vein of form. He can sometimes struggle against quality leg-spin or off-spin, particularly early in his innings, so consider betting against him in matchups where opposition teams have strong spin attacks. As a wicketkeeper, his fielding contributions (catches/stumpings) can also add value to ‘Player Performance Points’ bets.
Strategic bettors might look for Rawat when RCB is chasing a high total or needs quick runs in the death overs, as his role as an Impact Player or finisher often allows him to swing freely. His ability to perform under pressure, as seen in some of his quickfire knocks, suggests he thrives when given a clear mandate to attack. Monitor his recent form and batting position carefully; an elevation in the batting order or a string of good scores significantly increases his betting appeal.
Key Records & Milestones
- Scored his maiden IPL half-century (66 runs) against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022, showcasing his explosive potential.
- One of the few young Indian wicketkeeper-batters to consistently feature in the Royal Challengers Bangalore playing XI since 2022.
- Crossed the 500-run mark in his IPL career by April 2026, a testament to his growing presence in the league.
- Achieved a career-best IPL strike rate of 145.26 in the 2024 season, highlighting his improved acceleration.
IPL Season Highlights
Anuj Rawat’s IPL journey has been marked by flashes of brilliance, particularly his ability to change the momentum of a game. His standout season was arguably IPL 2022, where he truly announced himself. His magnificent 66 off 47 balls against Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium in Pune was a masterclass in aggressive batting, featuring 6 fours and 2 sixes, guiding RCB to a comfortable victory. This knock was crucial in establishing him as a viable opening option for the franchise.
In IPL 2024, Rawat showcased greater consistency and maturity in his cameos. Though he didn’t register a fifty, his 138 runs from 8 innings at a blistering strike rate of 145.26 were vital for RCB’s middle-order acceleration. His unbeaten 48* against Punjab Kings, where he took calculated risks and finished the innings strongly, was a prime example of his improved game awareness and finishing prowess, often coming in as an Impact Player to provide late impetus.
The IPL 2025 season saw Rawat further solidify his role, notching up his second IPL half-century with a crucial 55. This innings, played under pressure, demonstrated his ability to anchor as well as accelerate, proving his versatility and growth as a top-tier T20 batsman. His contributions were instrumental in several RCB victories, making him an indispensable part of their setup.