Vaibhav Suryavanshi: In one of the most remarkable moments in Indian domestic cricket,Vaibhav Suryavanshi has rewritten record books with a breathtaking century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The young Bihar batter stunned cricket fans across the country by becoming the youngest player in the tournament’s history to score a century, marking a milestone rarely witnessed in top-tier T20 cricket. His unbeaten 108 not only highlighted his extraordinary talent but also placed him among the world’s youngest cricketers to smash three T20 centuries before turning 15 — a record no other player has ever achieved at this age.
While Suryavanshi grabbed headlines with his historic achievement, the tournament also witnessed a powerful comeback from star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who returned to competitive cricket after injury. Playing for Baroda, Hardik smashed an unbeaten 77 to guide his team to a thrilling victory over Punjab during a high-scoring chase. Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 18-ball fifty and Prithvi Shaw’s fiery half-century for Maharashtra added more excitement to an action-packed day across different venues.
Alongside these standout performances, Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal continued his brilliant run by smashing yet another T20 century, while young bowlers such as Ravi Bishnoi and Arjun Tendulkar delivered impactful spells for their teams.
Below is a complete report capturing every major highlight from an unforgettable day of domestic cricket action.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Becomes Youngest to Score a Century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
The biggest story of the day belonged to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old prodigy from Bihar. Facing Maharashtra, Suryavanshi delivered a mature and outstanding performance far beyond his age. Opening the batting, he crafted a magnificent unbeaten 108 off 61 balls, an innings studded with seven fours and seven towering sixes, helping Bihar post a competitive total of 176/3.
This century was his third T20 hundred of the year, making him the only player in world cricket to achieve this feat at the age of 14. His prolific run-scoring places him alongside star players such as Abhishek Sharma, who also has three T20 hundreds this year, while Ayush Mahatre and Ishan Kishan have two each.
Suryavanshi’s rise has been swift and sensational. After a few low scores earlier in the tournament, he made a strong comeback with this commanding hundred, demonstrating remarkable temperament under pressure. Coaches and former players have hailed his ability to read bowlers, rotate strike, and unleash clean power-hitting—qualities rarely seen in teenagers at this level.
Though his century was nothing short of historic, Bihar could not convert his brilliance into a win. Maharashtra captain Prithvi Shaw, who has been hungry to return to form after going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, blasted 66 off just 30 deliveries. His aggressive knock ensured Maharashtra successfully chased the target with an over to spare, winning by three wickets and keeping their campaign on track.
Despite the loss, the cricket community widely praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi, describing him as the next big batting sensation emerging from India’s domestic cricket structure.
Hardik Pandya’s Explosive Comeback Guides Baroda to Victory
Another major story unfolded when Hardik Pandya, returning from a left quadriceps injury, produced a spectacular match-winning performance for Baroda. Playing his first professional game since the Asia Cup final, Hardik looked in full control with the bat as he hammered an unbeaten 77 off 42 deliveries against Punjab.
Baroda was chasing a massive target of 223, and early wickets added pressure on the middle order. However, Hardik steadied the innings with calmness and then shifted gears with calculated aggression. His 101-run partnership with Shivalik Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 47, laid the foundation for Baroda’s comeback in the chase.
In a tactical move, Shivalik was retired out so pinch-hitter Jitesh Sharma could accelerate the scoring. Baroda needed 30 runs off the last 15 balls, but thanks to Hardik’s explosive hitting, they completed the chase with nine balls to spare, winning by seven wickets.
While his batting was exceptional, Hardik’s bowling performance wasn’t as effective. He went for 52 runs in four overs, picking up one wicket. Punjab’s captain Abhishek Sharma attacked Hardik early, smashing a rapid 50 off 18 balls, continuing his reputation as one of India’s strongest upcoming power-hitters.
Punjab’s innings was built on solid contributions from Anmolpreet Singh (69) and Naman Dheer (39), but the team ultimately fell short as Baroda’s late flourish outclassed them.
Both Punjab and Baroda now have two wins each in Group C, while Gujarat leads the table with three wins from four matches.
Devdutt Padikkal’s Fourth T20 Century Leads Karnataka to a Crushing 145-Run Win
Karnataka, after suffering two consecutive defeats, finally bounced back with a dominant performance powered by Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten 102 off 46 balls against Tamil Nadu. This century marked his fourth in T20 cricket, reaffirming his position as one of India’s most reliable domestic performers.
Opening the innings, Padikkal combined aggression with elegance, punishing bowlers with ease and maintaining a strike rate above 200 throughout. His partnership with R. Samarth (46*) propelled Karnataka to a massive total, leaving Tamil Nadu under pressure from the start.
Tamil Nadu’s bowlers struggled, with captain Varun Chakravarthy conceding 47 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket—an unusually expensive spell for the ace spinner.
Chasing the stiff target, Tamil Nadu’s batting collapsed completely. The entire team was bundled out for 100 runs in just 14.2 overs, suffering one of their biggest defeats in recent memory. Karnataka’s spinners Shreyas Gopal and Praveen Dubey took three wickets each, tightening the grip on every batter they faced.
The loss pushed Tamil Nadu to the bottom of Group D, raising further concerns about their declining performance this domestic season. After a poor start in the Ranji Trophy and only one win so far in white-ball cricket, the team’s form continues to spiral downward.
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Ravi Bishnoi Shines for Gujarat; Arjun Tendulkar Impresses for Goa
Meanwhile, young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi—recently released by LSG—made a strong impact for Gujarat, picking up three crucial wickets. His disciplined bowling ensured Puducherry was bowled out for a mere 83 runs. Gujarat chased the target effortlessly in just nine overs, with opener Arya Desai smashing an unbeaten 53 off 30 balls.
With this win, Gujarat strengthened its position in the Super Four race, securing three victories in four matches.
In another standout performance of the day, Arjun Tendulkar, who was traded from LSG earlier this season, delivered an impressive spell for Goa. He finished with 3/36, claiming key wickets including the dismissal of India international Venkatesh Iyer.
Goa chased down Madhya Pradesh’s target of 170/6 with ease, thanks to brilliant batting from Abhinav Tejran (55 off 33) and Suyash Prabhudessai (75 off 50). Both Goa and Madhya Pradesh now have two wins each in Group B.
A Remarkable Day Defined by Young Talent and Fierce Competition
From Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s historic century to Hardik Pandya’s explosive comeback, the latest round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy showcased the depth and diversity of talent in Indian domestic cricket. The emergence of young stars, the resilience of experienced players, and the competitive spirit across all groups make this season one of the most exciting in recent years.
The spotlight, however, remains firmly on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose exceptional achievement at just 14 years old has captured national attention. His consistency, maturity, and fearless batting promise a bright future—not only for Bihar cricket but potentially for India on the global stage.
As the tournament progresses, fans and selectors alike will be watching closely to see whether this young sensation can continue producing magic with the bat.
