Duleep Trophy | Used injury-induced break to become a better bowler, says Kaverappa

In the eight months from July 2023 to February 2024, Vidwath Kaverappa’s career was on an upward trajectory.

The Karnataka pacer was the Player of the Series in Duleep Trophy (15 wickets in two games), played for India-A against South Africa-A and England Lions, and took 25 wickets from five matches in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy at an average of 20.16.

But the 2024-25 season was a washout, troubled as he was by a stress fracture in his shin, and played just two First Class games.

In 2025-26, he was fit, but was not an automatic choice when V. Vyshak and Prasidh Krishna were available, missing out on the Ranji Trophy semifinal and final, against Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, respectively.

However, with a four-wicket haul for South Zone on the opening day of the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy semifinal versus North Zone, Kaverappa signalled his desire to make the upcoming campaign count and return to his best.

“I am not really over the moon or something like that,” the 27-year-old told reporters on Sunday at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. “I’m just taking one game at a time and not thinking too far ahead. I know the kind of bowling I can produce. So I cannot relax or be complacent with this. ”

Kaverappa admitted that the injury came at a wrong time in his career, but stated that he used the break to become a better bowler.

“I just thought about what best I can do and what I can add to my arsenal. And that’s how I added a little bit more strength, and made a few corrections to my action.”

Between then and now, Kaverappa said that he was a lot more mature.

“I am more in tune with my bowling. I am not chasing things that don’t work. I just focus on things that work and use it at the best possible time.”