For Kartik Tyagi, the road back has been as much about introspection as it has been about pace.

On the eve of Kolkata Knight Riders’ clash against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the young quick — one of the few bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign for his team — opened up on the tweaks that have helped him rediscover rhythm after a frustrating run with injuries.

A recurring shin splint had stalled Tyagi’s progress just when he seemed to be finding his feet at the top level. The enforced breaks, though, turned into a period of reflection.

“There were a few injuries… but at the same time, I identified that there were a few problems. There were a few incidents… the same thing kept repeating,” Tyagi said.

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The solution lay in going back to the drawing board. Tyagi reworked his run-up — particularly his loading phase — and made subtle adjustments to his action, in consultation with physios and coaches.

The changes, he believes, have reduced the stress on his body while allowing him to retain his natural pace.

“I had to change everything… a lot of people have said about the action, but I know that the same thing was happening again and again,” he said.

The results are evident. Tyagi is back touching the high 140s with consistency, but more importantly, with control — a combination that has added bite to an otherwise struggling KKR attack.

“Mentally, there’s no difference for me… there’s always pressure… we should try to understand the process,” he said, emphasising clarity over clutter.

Published on Apr 16, 2026