Gujarat’s wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel stunned the cricketing world by breaking Rishabh Pant’s record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian. This incredible feat came just days after Patel went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Urvil’s explosive innings not only silenced his critics but also put his name among the fastest T20 century makers globally.
A Record-Breaking Knock in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Playing against Tripura in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Emerald Heights International School Ground in Indore, Urvil blasted a century off just 28 balls. Though he narrowly missed the world record for the fastest T20 hundred by a single delivery, he comfortably surpassed Rishabh Pant’s 32-ball century set in 2018.
With this achievement, Urvil became the first Indian batter to score a T20 hundred in under 30 balls. His remarkable knock also placed him second on the list of fastest T20 centuries, behind Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who holds the record with a 27-ball ton against Cyprus in 2024.
Top 5 Fastest T20 Centuries
- 27 balls – Sahil Chauhan (Estonia vs Cyprus, 2024)
- 28 balls – Urvil Patel (Gujarat vs Tripura, 2024)
- 30 balls – Chris Gayle (RCB vs Pune Warriors, IPL 2013)
- 32 balls – Rishabh Pant (Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh, 2018)
Dominant Performance
Urvil’s whirlwind innings of 113 not out off just 35 balls included 12 sixes and seven fours, propelling Gujarat to chase down a 156-run target in just 10.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. His strike rate of 322.86 was a testament to his ability to dominate bowlers in the shortest format.
Redemption After IPL Snub
Urvil’s stunning performance comes as a fitting reply to the 10 IPL franchises that overlooked him during the IPL 2025 auction, where he went unsold at a base price of ₹30 lakh. Having been part of the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, he was released ahead of the 2024 auction and found no takers in the subsequent mega auction.
A Year of Milestones
Exactly a year before this innings, on November 27, 2023, Urvil grabbed headlines with a blistering 41-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Arunachal Pradesh in Chandigarh. That innings was the second-fastest century by an Indian in List A cricket, behind Yusuf Pathan’s 40-ball ton in the 2009/10 season.
What Lies Ahead
Urvil Patel’s spectacular performance in domestic cricket raises questions about the missed opportunity for IPL teams. With his current form and ability to produce match-winning performances, Urvil has made a strong case for a comeback in the cricketing spotlight.
