Young Mumbai cricketer Ayush Mhatre created waves in the ongoing Ranji Trophy as he scored his maiden century during the match against Maharashtra. What made this feat even more special was that Ayush, a 17-year-old 12th-grade student, achieved the milestone using a bat borrowed from his fellow teammate and star cricketer, Prithvi Shaw.
Ayush has taken the place of Musheer Khan, the younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan, in the Mumbai squad after Musheer was sidelined due to an injury from a road accident. Despite being relatively new to first-class cricket, Ayush has already shown glimpses of his immense potential.
Prithvi Shaw’s Bat, Ayush Mhatre’s Milestone
Ayush Mhatre, playing his second Ranji match for Mumbai, remained unbeaten on 127 runs at the end of the first day’s play against Maharashtra. His brilliant knock included 17 boundaries and 3 towering sixes. What adds an extra layer to this achievement is the fact that he played with Prithvi Shaw’s bat, the same bat Shaw had given to him after his debut match against Baroda.
Ayush spoke to the media after the day’s play, sharing the story behind the bat. “I asked Prithvi for his bat, and he happily gave it to me. Scoring a century with his bat means a lot to me as I’ve known him for a long time,” said Ayush, who, like Shaw, hails from Virar, Mumbai.
Interestingly, Ayush opened the innings for Mumbai alongside Prithvi Shaw in this match. However, Shaw couldn’t make much of an impact, getting dismissed for just one run in the first innings.
Ayush Mhatre Fills Musheer Khan’s Shoes
Ayush Mhatre’s inclusion in the Mumbai Ranji team came after Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan’s younger brother, suffered an unfortunate injury just before the Irani Cup. Ayush, who didn’t have a memorable Irani Cup debut, scoring only 33 runs across both innings, made up for it with a half-century in his Ranji debut against Baroda.
Now, with a century under his belt in just his second Ranji match, Ayush has shown that he’s ready to fill the void left by Musheer’s absence. His remarkable innings against Maharashtra is a clear signal that Mumbai’s batting lineup is in safe hands with this young talent.
Ayush Mhatre’s Cricketing Journey
Despite being just 17 years old and still in school, Ayush has had a long journey in cricket. He started showing interest in the game at the age of 5 and began playing competitive cricket in his teenage years. By the time he was 15, he had already made a name for himself in school and club cricket, with his highest personal score being a mammoth 254 runs.
Ayush’s dedication to the game is evident from the fact that he traveled 80 kilometers daily from Virar to Churchgate to train and practice. His family, especially his parents, maternal grandfather, and uncle, have been key supporters in his pursuit of cricketing excellence.
With this maiden Ranji century, Ayush has already shown his hunger for success and determination to make a mark in the cricketing world.
