Mumbaikar Rudra Dhanday, a batting sensation has created a significant record in India by smashing a 67-ball unbeaten 200 while playing for Rizvi College during the University of Mumbai’s inter-college cricket tournament of the Abis Champions Trophy against P Dalmia College at the Matunga Gymkhana Ground on April 11 before Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab scored 453 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede on the very same day.
“I am speechless. I can’t believe I did something like this,” Dhanday was quoted as saying by DNA.
Interestingly, the 19-year-old batsman Dhanday was overlooked by the junior selectors for the Under-19 team from Mumbai before making his name into record books officially while toying with opposition bowlers at his will.
While having the fascination for records, Dhanday’s blazing innings was laced with 15 sixes and 21 fours which further shows how power-hitting has pulled the spectators – to cheer for the Bandra-based College.
“It’s a perfect gift for my mom and dad who have their marriage anniversary tomorrow,” Dhanday added.
The twenty-20 format is a game where bowlers have been seen as a villain in most-half-of-the-game at times, on the flat-bedded surfaces and in a striking similarity an inter-college game had put same on the plate after Dhanday battered the bowlers with his exquisite stroke play.
In 2007, the highest individual Twenty20 score was set by Dhanuka Pathirana, a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer in a match during Saddleworth League.
Pathirana scored 277 runs off just 72 deliveries to register his name into record books as a world’s highest individual scorer. The reports further revealed the Super-eight Twenty20 Tournament was organised by Mumbai’s University which has further been supported by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
It’s now an official record which Dhanday has set in the local competition under the aegis of Mumbai’s Cricket Association itself. Rizvi College posted a massive total of 322 in 20 overs, before bundling out Dalmia College for just 75 in 10.2 overs to claim the win by 247 runs.
Rizvi College which opted to bat first, saw the blitzkrieg from Dhanday while reaching his triple figure mark in mere 39 balls before reaching his double-hundred in next 28 deliveries while flaying the bowlers of Dalmiya College.
Dhanday, who has received the praise across the cricket fraternity, was overjoyed after the brilliant knock. It becomes pertinent in Delhi; Mohit Ahlawat smashed a triple hundred in off-the-record T20 game in February this year, as the speculations were at high that the young prodigy is expected make into the IPL Players Auction that turned out only to be a report.
Guided by his father, Dhanday was not picked for the 15-member squad in October 2016 for the U-19 tournament for the West Zone League, Vinoo Mankad Trophy.
Interestingly, the highest individual T20 score has been set by the West Indies swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle unbeaten 66-ball 175 against Pune Warriors in the sixth edition of IPL.