Urvil Patel made headlines recently with his spectacular T20 performance, showcasing his remarkable skill and determination on the field. The cricketing world is abuzz after the 26-year-old batter smashed the fastest century by an Indian player during the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, held at the Emerald Heights International School in Indore. His explosive innings not only proved his talent but also served as a potent reminder of the unpredictability of the sport.
On November 27, Patel displayed extraordinary batting prowess as he raced to 101 runs off just 28 balls. This stunning performance was punctuated by 11 sixes and 7 fours, marking him as one of the rising stars of Indian cricket. Urvil ended his innings unbeaten, scoring 113 runs from 35 deliveries, leading his team, Gujarat, to victory over Tripura by eight wickets, with 9.4 overs remaining.
Despite his recent triumph, Urvil's story took two significant twists. Just days before his record-breaking knock, he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction, even after naming his base price at INR 30 lakh. This shocking turn of events left many cricket fans and experts questioning how overlooked talent could showcase such significant potential yet fail to secure a contract during one of cricket's most lucrative events.
The current record for the fastest T20 century is held by Sahil Chauhan from Estonia, who blasted his hundred off just 27 balls against Cyprus earlier this year. Patel’s feat of 28 balls not only makes him the fastest Indian to reach this milestone but places him among the top tier of explosive hitters globally, sitting behind Chauhan and the legendary Chris Gayle, who managed to score off 30 balls during the 2013 IPL season.
Interestingly, the sport of T20 cricket continues to evolve, with several players making their mark. Other noteworthy performances include Delhi’s Rishabh Pant, who hit his century off 32 balls during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy back in 2018, and Rohit Sharma, who achieved his century against Sri Lanka with 35 balls. With statistics like these, it's clear we live in an era of aggressive batting where records seem to tumble at every opportunity.
Reflecting on his IPL oversight, Urvil shared some insights on how he views setbacks. "I did expect to be picked, to be very honest. But I am happy to be playing and performing, and advancing my game," he noted. He attributed his ability to handle such disappointments to some advice he received from prominent cricketer Suryakumar Yadav during last season's IPL. He recalled their conversation fondly, explaining how Yadav told him, "Play fearlessly" and emphasized the importance of observing the bowler's action carefully, encouraging him to back himself at all times.
This motivational interaction clearly stuck with Urvil, as he revealed he thinks of Yadav's words each time he steps onto the pitch. "We both bat with the same approach. It doesn’t matter who the bowler is," Patel said, highlighting his confidence and dedication.
Urvil Patel’s path to cricket prominence began back when he made his T20 debut for Baroda back in 2018. Over his relatively short career, he has already played 43 T20 matches, scoring 875 runs with an impressive strike rate of 154.32. He has also participated in six first-class games and 14 List-A matches, showing his versatility as a player.
Patel’s astonishing performance serves not just as personal validation but as motivation for many young cricketers across India and beyond. It stands as evidence of the fierce competition and talent present within the domestic leagues. His story epitomizes how resilience can lead to remarkable achievements, regardless of external circumstances like the recent IPL auction.
His next task will be to build on this momentum and continue his ascent within professional cricket. With the cricketing calendar packed with various tournaments, fans and cricket analysts alike are eager to see how he leverages this milestone to improve his standing and perhaps secure his place on the IPL roster for next season.