NEW DELHI: Indian domestic cricket has taken center stage this season with players rewriting the history books in white-ball tournaments.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has emphasized the importance of domestic competitions, ensuring international players not involved in the international duties actively participate in the domestic circuit. This increased spotlight has brought heightened attention to the tournaments, inspiring players to deliver extraordinary performances.
Cricketers like Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Mohammed Shami have added star power to these events, pushing domestic talents to raise their game. From the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) to the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, records have been tumbling at an unprecedented rate.
The SMAT, India’s premier T20 competition, saw Shreyas Iyer-led Mumbai clinch the title. However, it was the record-breaking feats during the tournament that made headlines.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy carried forward the momentum with Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh setting a new benchmark on the opening day on December 21. Singh smashed the fastest List A century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in Ahmedabad. This feat is now the third-fastest List A hundred in the world, trailing only Jake Fraser-McGurk’s 28-ball ton and AB de Villiers’ 31-ball century.
Major records broken in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Highest Team Total in T20s:
Krunal Pandya-led Baroda posted 349/5 against Sikkim in Indore, the highest-ever total in T20 cricket. Bhanu Pania’s blistering 134 off 51 balls powered the team past the previous global record of 344/4 set by Zimbabwe against Gambia earlier this year.
This was also the first time an Indian domestic team breached the 300-run mark in T20s, surpassing Punjab’s 275/6 against Andhra in 2023.
Highest Run Rate in a Completed T20 Innings:
Baroda’s 349/5 was scored at a staggering run rate of 17.45 runs per over, eclipsing the previous global record of 17.2 runs per over held by Zimbabwe.
Most Sixes in a T20 Innings:
Baroda smashed 37 sixes during their innings, shattering Zimbabwe’s previous record of 27. Bhanu Pania hit 15 sixes, while Shivalik Sharma and Vishnu Solanki added six each.
Largest Margin of Victory in T20s (by Runs):
Baroda defeated Sikkim by 263 runs, setting a new record for the largest victory margin in Indian T20 cricket. The global record of 290 runs remains with Zimbabwe.
Fastest T20 Hundreds by Indians:
Gujarat’s Urvil Patel and Punjab’s Abhishek Sharma both scored 28-ball centuries, the joint fastest T20 hundred by an Indian. The global record remains with Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who smashed a 27-ball ton against Cyprus.
Most Bowlers Used in a T20 Match:
Delhi made history by using all 11 players as bowlers in a match against Manipur at Wankhede. With Manipur deploying seven bowlers, the game set a new global record with 18 bowlers used in a single T20 match.
As the domestic season unfolds, the flurry of record-breaking performances underscores the depth of Indian cricket’s talent pool. With increased visibility and the involvement of high-profile players, the competitions are not only thrilling for fans but also paving the way for the next generation of cricketing stars.
