Gujarat opener Urvil Patel smashed a 31-ball hundred in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, cementing his reputation as explosive batter.
In the ever-expanding landscape of Indian cricket, where young batters jostle for space in the spotlight, Urvil Patel has carved out a niche that is both audacious and refreshing. His 31-ball hundred against Services in Hyderabad, coming on the opening day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, was another entry in the record books. A statement of intent, of fearlessness.
Born and raised in Gujarat, Urvil Patel has long been known in domestic circles as a dasher at the top of the order. His game is built on instinct and timing, but what sets him apart is his ability to sustain aggression without losing shape. Against Services, he showcased exactly that, with 11 fours and eight sixes in a whirlwind knock that left bowlers searching for answers. By the time he finished unbeaten on 199 off just 37 balls, the contest had ceased to be about runs and wickets.
This was not a one-off. Urvil’s rise has been shaped by milestones that demand attention. In 2024, he equaled the record for the second-fastest T20 century by an Indian, reaching three figures in just 28 balls against Tripura in Indore. That innings placed him alongside Abhishek Sharma, another young dasher, and confirmed that Urvil Patel belonged to the new breed of Indian batters who see boundaries not as occasional rewards but as natural scoring options.
At 25, Urvil Patel represents the restless energy of modern Indian batting. He is not content with accumulation, as he thrives on acceleration. His milestones, or two of the fastest T20 hundreds by an Indian, are markers of a changing era in domestic cricket. For Gujarat, he has become the talisman, the batter who can dismantle attacks and tilt games in a matter of overs.
Urvil’s 31-ball hundred in Hyderabad will be remembered as a milestone, but in truth, it is part of a larger journey. A journey of a cricketer who has tasted rejection, embraced opportunity, and continues to swing his bat with the conviction that every ball deserves a challenge. If his trajectory continues, the question will not be whether he belongs in the IPL, but how long before he forces his way into conversations about the national team.