NEW DELHI: Gujarat wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel is in sublime form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The right-hander smashed his second century of the tournament, an unbeaten 115 off just 41 balls, to guide Gujarat to a dominant victory over Uttarakhand at the Emerald Heights International School Ground in Indore. His century came off just 36 balls.
Earlier in the tournament, Urvil hammered a scintillating 100 off just 28 balls against Tripura on November 27, earning him the Player of the Match award.
In the match against Uttarakhand, Gujarat won the toss and elected to field. Ravikumar Samarth (54) and Aditya Tare (54) powered Uttarakhand to a competitive 182/7 in 20 overs. However, Urvil’s explosive knock, featuring 11 sixes and eight fours, ensured Gujarat chased the target in just 13.1 overs. His match-winning effort earned him another Player of the Match award.
Gujarat leads the Group B table with five wins in six matches. After losing their opening game to Baroda by five wickets, they bounced back with five consecutive wins to top the standings.
“I did expect an IPL deal, to be very honest. But I am happy that I am playing, performing, and taking my game forward. I was watching the auction but immediately shifted my focus to my game after not being picked. I am not disappointed. This is something not in my hands,” Urvil told TimesofIndia.com after his knock against Tripura.
Hailing from Kahipur village in Mehsana, Gujarat, Urvil was part of Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 season. Bought for Rs 20 lakh, he shared the dressing room with stalwarts like Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, and David Miller, which helped him refine his hard-hitting abilities.
Urvil draws inspiration from Suryakumar Yadav. “I met Surya bhai during the IPL. I went up to him and told him that I admire him. He was very happy. He put his hand around my shoulder and said, ‘Chal, baat karte hain.’ He gave me a lot of batting tips. He said, ‘Bindaas khelne ka. Ball ko dekhna, but pehle bowler ko, uske action ko, uske hand aur finger movement ko. And be confident. Apne aap ko hamesha back karna,’” Patel recalled.
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