Urvil Patel, India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, once again showcased his devastating batting prowess. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy today, he scored a century in just 31 balls, marking the second fastest T20 century by an Indian player.
Patel’s previous performances in the same tournament have been equally remarkable. He had earlier scored a 28-ball century, which remains jointly the fastest by an Indian, and a 36-ball century in another match. His aggressive batting has earned him recognition in the Indian Premier League, where he represented Chennai Super Kings.
Today also marked Patel’s debut as captain of Gujarat. The 27-year-old right-hander led his team with authority, finishing 37 balls unbeaten on 119 as Gujarat chased 183 set by Services, leaving 45 balls to spare. During his innings, he struck 10 sixes and 12 boundaries, demonstrating both power and precision.
While Sahil Chauhan holds the overall fastest T20 century record internationally, Patel stands out for having three centuries scored in fewer than 40 balls, a feat unmatched by any other Indian.
Patel has also excelled in List A cricket. In the 2023 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored a 41-ball century against Arunachal Pradesh, the third fastest in Indian List A history. Despite such performances, Patel was initially overlooked in last year’s IPL auction, but Chennai Super Kings brought him in mid-season to replace an injured player, where he scored 68 runs in three matches. He has now been retained for the upcoming season.
Urvil Patel continues to establish himself as one of India’s most destructive and consistent limited-overs batsmen.