Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Rajvardhan Hangargekar is a promising young cricketer from India known for his fierce right-arm pace bowling, effortlessly clocking speeds of up to 145 km/h. Born on November 24, 2002, in Tuljapur, Maharashtra, Hangargekar has already showcased remarkable performances in domestic cricket. He made his Twenty20 debut on January 16, 2021, representing Maharashtra in the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His standout performance in the T20 format earned him a spot in Maharashtra's List A squad for the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

With his exploits in the domestic circuit, Hangargekar continues to impress selectors and cricket enthusiasts alike. Despite a lukewarm outing in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 in the West Indies, where he managed to secure just 5 wickets, his consistent performances earned him a spot in the Indian Premier League auction for the 2022 season.

During the auction, a dramatic bidding war unfolded between Mumbai and Chennai, with Hangargekar eventually being picked by Chennai for a staggering INR 1.5 crores, surpassing his base price of INR 30 lakhs. Although his playing opportunities were limited, he displayed his ability to generate pace and benefited from sharing the dressing room with cricketing greats like MS Dhoni, making it a valuable learning experience for the young cricketer.

On July 19, 2023, in the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Rajvardhan Hangargekar delivered a sensational performance against Pakistan A, claiming five wickets for just 42 runs. His brilliant spell played a pivotal role in India A’s commanding victory, showcasing his immense potential on the big stage. Ahead of the 2025 IPL season, Lucknow Super Giants secured Hangargekar for 30 lakh rupees in the mega auction.

Hangargekar continued to consolidate his reputation as a core bowling option for Maharashtra across all formats in domestic cricket. He impressed in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, regularly providing early breakthroughs and finishing with impactful figures, including a match-winning 4 for 21 against Sikkim and a 3-wicket haul against Uttarakhand. He finished the season with 13 wickets in 7 matches.

His transition into the long-format game reached a key milestone during the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, where he spearheaded Maharashtra's attack with a maiden First-Class five-wicket haul (5/44) against Madhya Pradesh. He played only 2 games but recorded fifers in both. He was also Maharashtra's leading wicket-taker in the SMAT 2025, picking up 11 wickets in 7 matches. Alongside his growing red-ball pedigree and white-ball consistency, Hangargekar's ability to operate at high pace while delivering lower-order power-hitting keeps him firmly among India's most promising young pace-bowling all-rounders.