Baroda spinner Mahesh Pithiya has become a trending name ever since he was roped in by the visiting Australian cricket team to bowl in nets to them as they prepare for the upcoming four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The Australian team has arrived in India and set up camp in KSCA grounds in Alur, Bengaluru, and have brought in Mahesh Pithiya, who has a similar action and load up to ace Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin.

Pithiya, who has played 4 FC and 1 T20 match for Baroda having made his debut recently, is training with the Australian batters to help them tackle Ashwin’s spin-bowling prowess in the crucial Border-Gavaskar series.

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Pithiya hails from Junagadh in Gujarat and moved to Baroda for cricketing opportunities. The right-arm spinner used to work at a tea stall and didn't even have a TV set to watch live cricket. Also Interestingly, Pithiya’s action is a natural one and he had not seen Ashwin bowl until 2013 as his family didn’t have a TV set at home.

Speaking to The Times of India, Pithiya revealed: "Due to our financial condition, I didn't have a TV set at home. I first saw Ashwin in action live on TV at a paan stall in our town during the India-West Indies series.

I worked at a tea stall in the Fatehgunj area for more than a year. My club helped in getting new cricketing shoes and some others generously donated cricketing gear. Playing cricket during the day and working in the evening was tough, but the struggle was worth it. My parents are very happy."

He made his T20 debut for Baroda against Andhra in October 2022. His Ranji Trophy debut came against UP in December last year.