Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Role: Bowler
DOB: 10 November 2002
IPL Team (2026): Unsold
Base Price: 20 Lakhs (2022 Auction)

The Story of Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Hailing from Osmanabad, Maharashtra, Rajvardhan Hangargekar burst onto the national scene with a reputation for raw pace and a powerful lower-order bat. A product of the U19 circuit, Hangargekar quickly became one of India’s most exciting young fast-bowling prospects. His journey to the IPL was significantly propelled by his stellar performance in the 2022 U19 Cricket World Cup, where he showcased his all-round capabilities, hitting towering sixes and consistently clocking speeds in excess of 140 kmph. This blend of express pace and explosive hitting made him an irresistible package for scouts, drawing comparisons to future Indian all-rounders.

Hangargekar’s playing style is defined by aggression. With the ball, he relies on a strong, whippy action to generate genuine pace and bounce, often targeting the stumps or aiming for the ribcage. He’s not afraid to use the short ball and has the ability to swing the new ball. With the bat, he’s a clean striker, capable of clearing the ropes with ease, particularly against pace. His fearless approach, whether with ball or bat, makes him a thrilling watch and a potential game-changer on his day. While his IPL appearances have been limited, the flashes of brilliance in domestic cricket and the U19 World Cup continue to fuel the belief in his immense potential.

His IPL breakthrough came in the 2022 mega-auction when Chennai Super Kings, known for nurturing talent, splurged INR 1.5 crore on the then 19-year-old, significantly exceeding his base price of 20 lakhs. This investment underscored the franchise’s faith in his long-term prospects. Though he didn’t feature in the playing XI in 2022, the experience of being part of a champion setup like CSK was invaluable. He finally made his IPL debut in 2023, a moment eagerly anticipated by fans who had followed his U19 exploits, marking the first step in what many hope will be a long and impactful IPL career.

IPL Journey: Team by Team

Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s IPL journey, though brief, has been exclusively with the Chennai Super Kings. He entered the IPL auction pool for the first time in the 2022 mega-auction with a base price of INR 20 lakhs. His impressive performances at the U19 World Cup created a bidding war, ultimately leading to Chennai Super Kings acquiring his services for a significant INR 1.5 crore. This was a clear statement of intent from CSK, investing in a raw but high-potential fast bowler.

For the 2022 season, Hangargekar remained on the bench, soaking in the atmosphere and learning from seasoned campaigners. He was retained by CSK for the 2023 season, where he finally made his much-awaited IPL debut. He played two matches for the Super Kings in 2023, bowling a total of 4 overs and conceding 52 runs without picking up a wicket. Despite not making a significant impact in his limited opportunities, the experience of playing at the highest level was crucial for his development. Following the 2023 season, CSK released him, and he went unsold in the subsequent IPL auctions (2024, 2025, 2026), indicating a period of rebuilding and refining his skills in domestic cricket before another potential IPL comeback.

What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective

From a betting perspective, Rajvardhan Hangargekar currently represents a high-risk, high-reward proposition, primarily due to his limited IPL exposure. His key strength lies in his genuine pace and ability to hit the deck hard. When he finds his rhythm, he can be a wicket-taking option, particularly in conditions that offer some bounce or when the pitch is fresh. His potential to hit big sixes also makes him an intriguing outside bet for ‘most sixes’ in a lower-order batting market, though this is highly speculative given his usual batting position.

However, his primary weakness, as observed in his brief IPL stint, is his economy rate. An average of 13.00 in 2023 suggests he can be expensive, especially when under pressure or when batsmen target him. This makes betting against his economy rate (e.g., ‘over X runs conceded’) a plausible strategy if he’s brought into the attack during powerplays or death overs without sufficient match practice. He thrives in conditions where the pitch offers pace and bounce, allowing him to exploit his natural attributes. Flat, slow tracks might expose his lack of variations and lead to higher run rates.

Consistency is currently a concern, given his nascent IPL career. Bettors should look for strong domestic performances leading into an IPL season as a key indicator of form. Matchups against teams with less experienced middle-order batsmen might be favorable for him to pick up wickets. For now, Hangargekar is a player to watch for future potential rather than a consistent betting option, but his raw talent means a breakthrough performance could always be around the corner, making him a dark horse for ‘Man of the Match’ in specific, low-expectation scenarios.

Key Records & Milestones

• IPL Debut: Made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings on April 3, 2023, against Gujarat Titans.
• U19 World Cup Star: Part of India’s U19 World Cup-winning squad in 2022, where he impressed with both bat and ball.
• Express Pace: Consistently bowls above 140 kmph, making him one of the faster Indian domestic bowlers of his generation.
• Auction Value: Secured a significant contract of INR 1.5 crore from CSK in the 2022 mega-auction, 7.5 times his base price.

IPL Season Highlights

Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s IPL career highlights are centered around his debut season in 2023. While he only featured in two matches, these appearances marked his entry into the world’s premier T20 league, a significant milestone for any young cricketer. His debut came against the reigning champions, Gujarat Titans, in the opening match of the season. Though he went wicketless, conceding 36 runs from his 3 overs, the experience of bowling against top international batsmen like Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya was invaluable.

His second and final appearance of the 2023 season was against Lucknow Super Giants. In this match, he bowled just one over, conceding 16 runs. Despite not picking up a wicket in either game, the fact that a team like Chennai Super Kings, known for their strategic acumen, gave him a chance in their playing XI speaks volumes about the potential they see in him. These initial outings, though statistically modest, served as a crucial learning curve, exposing him to the intensity and demands of IPL cricket, which he will undoubtedly build upon in his quest for a more prominent role in future seasons.