On a day when opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a golden duck, India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre produced a magnificent counterattack, scoring a sensational century in the second Youth Test against England U19 at the County Ground in Chelmsford. Chasing a stiff target of 355 on Day 4, Mhatre led from the front, reaffirming his growing stature as one of India’s most promising young batters. The 18-year-old, who celebrated his birthday just a week earlier on July 16, has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in this series. Having marked his birthday with his teammates at Lord’s, Mhatre brought the celebrations to the pitch with a commanding performance. Opening the innings alongside Suryavanshi, Mhatre wasted no time in asserting himself, scoring freely and setting the tone for India’s chase. He formed a crucial partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu, who also played a valuable role with a composed half-century. Mhatre raced to his century in just 64 balls, showcasing his fearless stroke play and positive intent. His eventual score of 126 came off just 80 deliveries, before he was caught attempting a slog sweep off the fourth ball of the 27th over from England’s Albert. His run tally featured 13 boundaries and 6 sixes. Mhatre’s consistency throughout the series has been a standout. In the first Youth Test at Beckenham, he scored a well-paced 102 off 115 balls in the first innings and followed it up with a brisk 32 in the second. He continued that momentum in the first innings of the Chelmsford Test with a fluent 80 from 90 deliveries.
Poll
Do you believe Ayush Mhatre will be a future star for Indian cricket?
As India look to gain the upper hand in the series following a drawn first Test, Mhatre’s inspirational leadership and red-hot form have provided the perfect foundation in the high-pressure chase.
