The Space Between: Vyshak Vijaykumar on a journey to find himself

The Indian cricket fraternity has always had an indelible memory for its stars and almost none for its nearly-men. For every name that became folklore, there were dozens who hovered just beneath.

Vyshak Vijaykumar, as of writing, belongs to that uncomfortable space. But maybe not for long.

He has been resilient enough to survive the grind of domestic cricket. He has shown flashes of promise in the glamorous world of the Indian Premier League (IPL). And yet, somehow, he has always been one step away from that India cap.

The barrier almost gave way on October 25, 2024, as Vyshak, then part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) targeted fast-bowling pool, received a maiden Twenty20 International call-up for the fast-approaching South Africa series.

Almost as if fate wanted to underline the moment, on the very next day, he reached a personal landmark, picking his 100th First-Class wicket while playing for Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy outing against Bihar. It would seem the stars were finally aligning.

He eventually didn’t get a game in the Rainbow Nation, but the proverbial door was finally ajar. Or so Vyshak would have thought, before an all-too-familiar twist forced its way into the tale. An untimely quadriceps injury in the early months of 2025 dragged him back, halting his momentum just as it had begun to gather impetus.

“Emotionally, it is very important to not dwell on it. You’d be letting yourself down. Injuries are a part of cricket. Everybody gets injured. I have a great family. When I go back home, they are always supportive. They asked me not to worry. In this profession, you don’t get a lot of time off to spend with your family. So, I just interpreted it as a manner of God giving me things that I otherwise wouldn’t have got,” Vyshak, who then spent two months in rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, tells  Sportstar.

In the meantime, Punjab Kings made a move right after Vyshak returned from South Africa, acquiring the pacer’s services for ₹1.80 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. When the season began, there was hardly anyone who predicted Vyshak to be a regular starter. However, as it turned out, he didn’t have to wait long for his moment in the sun.

Solid start: This season, Vyshak (second from left) has taken five wickets in his first two games for Punjab Kings, already one more than his total tally in each of the previous two editions.  | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Interestingly, Vyshak himself was unaware that he would be summoned during PBKS’ opening game as an Impact Player until 13 overs into the Gujarat Titans’ chase.

With Sherfane Rutherford and Jos Buttler wreaking havoc in the middle, coach Ricky Ponting sent a worried message out to captain Shreyas Iyer on the field. The PBKS skipper replied almost instinctively: “Just get Vyshak out here. He will nail a couple of overs of yorkers, and we will close the game.”

Marcus Stoinis had just conceded 17 runs in the 14th over when Vyshak was handed the ball. GT needed 75 from 36. “We just thought we would try a few wide yorkers. I ended up bowling a couple of wides as well. But Shreyas came and said that no matter what, I had to keep sticking to the same thing. As a bowler, if somebody gives you that much confidence, you don’t require much when you are playing at the highest level, right?”

Vyshak ended up conceding only five runs in each of his first two overs. Shreyas’ call held up, the damage was done, and PBKS went on to win by 11 runs. “As a fast bowler, if you’re playing at the highest level, you’ve got to be ready for all challenges. So, we make sure we are prepared. Say there’s a lot of dew in Ahmedabad and then you get a wet ball; you can’t complain, right? (For such situations) we make sure we practise enough to bowl those yorkers — doesn’t matter if it is wet or not. When the captain comes and gives you the ball, you can’t be saying, ‘S**t, I’ve not practised bowling wide yorkers!’ You always keep yourself up to the challenge.”

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Into his second year with the Kings, it’s almost like Vyshak never left home in the first place. He appears more assured, aware that this phase is about refinement. “The first stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2023-2024) helped me grow as a cricketer. I am where I am because of that, so I am very grateful. In the IPL, you represent a certain franchise, and that is where you give your heart and soul. (At PBKS), nothing much has changed. It’s just that I have grown in confidence as a fast bowler. I would say I’m a better and more confident bowler than how I was in the first year… I want to play and win all the games, but the IPL is such a format that you never know what is going to happen.”

These weren’t mere rehearsed lines. Vyshak’s words could be substantiated with numbers. Although he made an immediate impact at RCB, registering career-best figures of 3/20 on his tournament debut against Delhi Capitals, he could only take 10 more wickets in as many games during his two-year stint with the Red and Gold brigade. His economy rate was 10.25 across that span. 

With modern T20 surfaces offering little assistance to bowlers, Vyshak has leaned into precision Instead of outfoxing batters with variety | Photo Credit: Punjab Kings

Even last year, except for the game against GT, his returns at PBKS were largely tepid. But the franchise, having got a glimpse of what he was capable of in that first game, decided to retain him.

In 2026, Vyshak has repaid that faith as a vital component of the pace battery. In his first two games, he has taken five wickets — already one more than his total tally in each of the previous two editions.

“I have had the same approach this year. I want to make sure I put in some effort and contribute to the team’s victory. I think that is more important than just looking at the number of wickets. I don’t look at the numbers. Yes, wickets are coming, and that is good, and I’m very happy. I hope I can continue getting those wickets. But as long as we are doing the processes right, we will win games. I think that is more important, and that is what I am looking forward to,” Vyshak said after briefly holding the Purple Cap following the game against Chennai Super Kings.

Vyshak may not be a huge fan of number-crunching, but there is a clear trend that has emerged in how he has steadily reduced his reliance on variations. In 2023, 33.33 per cent of his deliveries were variations. The following year, that dropped to 29.89, and last year, it came down further to 20.59 per cent. It’s still early days in the ongoing edition, but the number seems to have nosedived to 10.41.

The change reflects both personal evolution and the demands of modern T20 surfaces, which offer little assistance to bowlers. Instead of outfoxing batters with variety, Vyshak has leaned into precision.

“The video analyst plays one of the biggest roles in the team by telling you what lines and lengths to bowl. It also depends on the wickets. If you’re confident in doing what you’re supposed to do at the end of the day and if you’re hitting the right lengths, it doesn’t matter which batter you are bowling to. If you bowl the right lengths, you are a good bowler, and nobody is going to hit you. ‘More practice, the better’ has been my mantra. The more I do in the nets, the more I think about the game, the more I visualise it, the better it works.”

In an IPL ecosystem increasingly defined by excess — more runs, extra risk, and ever-flowing boundaries — Vyshak has managed to market his wares through restraint. For someone long caught between promise and arrival, this might finally be the year the gap begins to close.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

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