Wed Nov 27 06:48:22 UTC 2024: ## Gujarat’s Urvil Patel Smashes Second Fastest T20 Century
**Indore, India** – Urvil Patel, a 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman from Gujarat, has etched his name in T20 history with a breathtaking innings. Playing against Tripura in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) on November 27th, Patel blazed his way to a 113* off just 35 balls, including seven fours and twelve sixes. His century, achieved in a record-breaking 28 balls for an Indian player, narrowly missed the world record.
Patel’s electrifying performance, featuring a strike rate of 322.86, propelled Gujarat to victory in a mere 10.2 overs, chasing down Tripura’s 155/8. This stunning display comes after Patel went unsold in the IPL 2024 auction, despite previously being purchased by Gujarat Titans for ₹20 lakhs in 2023 but not playing a single match.
His knock is the second-fastest T20 century ever recorded, only surpassed by Estonian Sahil Chowhan’s 27-ball century against Cyprus earlier this year. Other notable entries on the list of fastest centuries include Chris Gayle (30 balls), Rishabh Pant (32 balls), and Wihan Lubbe (33 balls).
Despite his impressive T20 record – 988 runs at an average of 23.52 and a strike rate of 164.11 in 44 matches, including one century and four fifties – Patel’s journey has been far from straightforward. He made his T20 debut for Baroda in 2018 but only recently made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy. His remarkable performance in the SMAT will undoubtedly reignite interest in this explosive talent.
First Piper 