‘I decided to go for the kill’: Batsman’s incredible T20 innings
Cricket statisticians were left scrambling for the record books after 21-year-old batsman Mohit Ahlawat hit a staggering 300 not out in a Twenty20 fixture in Delhi.
The score was recorded in a club match, but came from a batsman who has played first-class cricket in India and is hopeful of being snapped up in this year’s Indian Premier League auction.
Ahlawat opened the batting for the Maavi XI against the Friends XI in a Friends Premier League fixture in New Delhi on Tuesday.
His first boundary came from the third ball of the innings, when he hit one of his 14 fours.
A six – the first of an incredible 39 he smashed – followed and the big hits never stopped.
Scorecard of Delhi's Mohit Ahlawat's 300 runs in a T20 match. @mohanstatsman pic.twitter.com/RM2AbldY4S
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 7, 2017
He even hit 50 from the last two overs, taking him to 300 and the Maavi XI to 2-416 – a score that helped them beat their opponents by 216 runs.
“I have to believe that I have done this,” a surprised Ahlawat told Indian news outlet ABP Live.
He then went on to describe the Friends XI bowling options as “good” – not something that you would garner from a glance at the scorecard.
“The [bowling] attack was good, but after seeing off the new ball, I decided to just bat aggressively,” he added.
“I was really timing the ball well. I saw the scorecard and I was nearing my 200 with five overs to go, so I decided to go for the kill.
“I reached 250 with just two overs to go – I told my partner, ‘let me try if I can make 300′. And I got 30 off the last over.”
Ahlawat told The Hindustan Times that he “knew” he had a huge Twenty20 score in him.
“I had scored an unbeaten 224 in a 40-over match in a Delhi and Districts Cricket Association [DDCA] league last year and a 158 in a T20 game,” he said.
“I’ve played a few big knocks before. So I knew I could do it again.”
The future
Ahlawat’s innings has generated headlines across the world and cricket-mad India is no exception.
The youngster wants to ply his trade in the world’s biggest Twenty20 competition, the Indian Premier League.
“Yes, I have put my name in IPL auction but I am not sure if this knock will help make people notice me,” he said.
“I am eager to prove my worth.”
A likely destination could be the Delhi Daredevils, who are based in the batsman’s hometown.
Ahlawat has had a taste of first-class cricket in India, which came at the age of just 19.
Ahlawat, who is also a wicketkeeper, made just five runs in three first-class games for Delhi in 2015.
Where does it rank?
His score is a staggering 125 runs more than the highest in domestic Twenty20 cricket.
West Indian Chris Gayle smashed 175 for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a 2013 Indian Premier League match.
The highest international Twenty20 score was hit by Aussie Aaron Finch, who made 156 from 63 balls against England, also in 2013.
Sri Lankan Dhanuka Pathirana blasted 277 in a Twenty20 club match in England in 2007, thought to be the highest individual score before Ahlawat’s effort.