Hours after being appointed India’s captain for the upcoming Under-19 Asia Cup, young Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre showcased why he’s already being seen as one of the most exciting talents in the country. In a stunning display of power-hitting during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the 18-year-old hammered an unbeaten 110 off just 53 balls against Vidarbha, guiding Mumbai to a commanding seven-wicket victory in Lucknow.
Chasing 193, Ayush played with remarkable maturity and flair, striking eight fours and eight towering sixes while maintaining a blistering strike rate of 207.55. While Ayush stole the spotlight, senior pros Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube chipped in with 35 and 39 runs, respectively.
Ajinkya Rahane endured a rare failure, departing for a two-ball duck, and wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore managed only a single. Earlier in the match, Vidarbha posted a strong total courtesy of openers Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade, who combined for a century stand.
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Both batters notched up fluent fifties, setting a solid platform. Mumbai pulled things back through all-rounder Shivam Dube, who impressed with figures of 3 for 31, while Siraj Patil matched him with an equally impactful 3 for 33.
Maiden T20 hundred for Ayush Mhatre with a six down the ground. Century off just 49 balls. Four consecutive sixes for him now as he hits another one after reaching his ton. #SMAT2025 #SMAT pic.twitter.com/2dPousXrud
— Dhruva Prasad (@DhruvaPrasad9) November 28, 2025
Elsewhere in Kolkata, Bihar’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his struggle in the ongoing SMAT 2025. Despite starting aggressively with a four and a six, he fell cheaply yet again, contributing to Bihar’s failure to chase down 175 against Madhya Pradesh. Bipin Saurabh top-scored for Bihar with 32 off 24, but Madhya Pradesh secured a comfortable 62-run win.
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Adding to the excitement for young Indian cricket, the BCCI announced the squad for the 2025 U-19 Asia Cup, set to begin on December 12 in Dubai. Ayush Mhatre will lead the 15-member side, with Vihaan Malhotra named vice-captain, as India look to continue their dominance in age-group cricket.
