Urvil Patel is at it again. The explosive Indian wicketkeeper-batsman recorded a century in just 31 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, confirming his place among India’s most destructive T20 batsmen.
Today’s innings was special as it marked Patel’s debut as Gujarat’s captain. At 27, he led from the front, finishing unbeaten on 119 off 37 balls as Gujarat chased a target of 183 set by Services, leaving 45 balls to spare. Patel’s innings included 10 sixes and 12 fours, combining sheer power with precise placement.
Patel has a history of lightning-fast centuries. Earlier in the same tournament, he scored 28-ball and 36-ball centuries, already making him one of India’s fastest scorers. In List A cricket too, he holds records, including a 41-ball century against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2023 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Notably, he is the only Indian batsman with three centuries in under 40 balls.
Internationally, the fastest T20 century record is held by Sahil Chauhan, an India-born player representing Estonia. Patel, however, remains unique in achieving multiple explosive centuries domestically, demonstrating remarkable consistency and maturity under pressure.
Despite these feats, Patel was overlooked in last year’s IPL auction. Chennai Super Kings added him mid-season as a replacement for an injured player, where he scored 68 runs in three matches. His retention for the next season signals faith in his ability to translate domestic form to the global stage.
Urvil Patel continues to establish himself as a generational talent in Indian cricket, combining raw firepower with tactical acumen.
