In a stunning display of batting prowess, Urvil Patel of Gujarat recently claimed the record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in a mere 28 balls. Following this remarkable achievement, Patel continued his excellent form by scoring an unbeaten 115 runs off just 41 balls during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Uttarakhand in Indore. This performance significantly contributed to Gujarat's dominant eight-wicket victory, allowing them to ascend to the top of Group C with an impressive record of five wins from six matches. With only one league match remaining, Gujarat's position is solidified.
Patel reached his century in just 38 balls, marking his second consecutive T20 hundred. His remarkable innings enabled Gujarat to chase down Uttarakhand's total of 182 runs easily, finishing the match with 41 balls to spare. In this explosive innings, Patel struck eight fours and an astounding eleven sixes, surpassing Hardik Pandya to become the tournament's leading six-hitter with a total of 25 sixes at this stage of the competition.
While Gujarat leads the group, Saurashtra is right on their tail, also accumulating 20 points in Group C. They have showcased formidable batting strength, following a previous score of 266 against Baroda with another impressive performance, where they posted 235 runs for the loss of five wickets in a 59-run victory over Tamil Nadu. This success was propelled by three stellar half-centuries from Harvik Desai, Ruchit Ahir, and Sammar Gajjar, each contributing 55 runs to the total. Ahir's performance marked his second consecutive T20 half-century in just his third match, while Desai maintained his fine form from the previous game, where he scored 76 runs off 39 balls. In contrast, Tamil Nadu struggled throughout their innings, ultimately falling short by 64 runs. This marked their fourth defeat in six matches, contrasting sharply with their previous successes when they had won the championship in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Mumbai made a significant statement in their quest for knockout qualification with a 39-run victory over Services in Group C. The team's success can be attributed to critical contributions from players such as Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shardul Thakur. Dube marked his return after a three-month injury layoff with a potent performance, scoring 71 runs off 37 balls, a crucial element of Mumbai's total of 192 runs for 4 wickets. Dube formed a formidable partnership with Suryakumar, who scored 70 runs off 46 balls, combining to establish a partnership of 130 runs for the fourth wicket. Although Prithvi Shaw faced challenges, getting dismissed for a duck in just three balls, Thakur found redemption after his previous disappointing outing. He recorded exceptional bowling figures of 4 wickets for 25 runs, significantly aiding Mumbai in defending their total successfully.
In contrast, Karnataka faced elimination despite a valiant effort from Shreyas Gopal, who achieved a remarkable hat-trick during a crucial match against Baroda. Gopal's outstanding bowling performance saw him finish with figures of 4 wickets for 19 runs, as he dismissed Bhanuka Punia and both Pandya brothers—Hardik and Krunal—all for first-ball ducks. This dramatic turn of events saw Baroda tumbling from 102 runs for 1 wicket to 102 runs for 4 wickets within a short span of time. However, the efforts of Shashwat Rawat, who scored 69 runs off 37 balls, coupled with Vishnu Solanki's unbeaten 28 runs off 21 balls, were pivotal in securing Baroda's win by four wickets with seven balls to spare. This victory placed Baroda level on points with both Gujarat and Saurashtra, while Karnataka was knocked out of the tournament contention.
Kerala’s chances of progressing further in the tournament faced a major setback following a six-wicket defeat against Andhra. This loss concluded Kerala's league fixtures with four wins from six matches, whereas Andhra topped Group E, remaining unbeaten with five victories in five matches. For Kerala to secure a spot in the knockout stages, they now rely on Andhra defeating Mumbai in their final league match. The foundation of Andhra's success was laid by their bowlers, who effectively exploited the early morning conditions in Indore, dismissing Kerala for a mere 87 runs. KV Sasikanth stood out with outstanding bowling figures, taking 3 wickets for 23 runs. Andhra’s chase was anchored by KS Bharat, who notched up a second consecutive half-century, remaining unbeaten on 56 runs off 33 balls.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy stage is set for thrilling matches ahead, with teams jostling for positions that could lead them into the coveted knockout rounds. As the competition unfolds, players continue to rise to the occasion, promising exciting cricket that captivates fans across the country.