VHT 2025-26: Gaikwad equals Vijay Hazare Trophy record for most tons; Hardik hits quick 31-Ball-75
Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a record-breaking hundred to rescue Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Goa, while Hardik also struck blistering 75 runs off 30 balls for Baroda.
New Delhi: Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his brilliant form in the 50-over format, smashing a 20th List A hundred to equal the all-time Vijay Hazare Trophy record in Maharashtra's last league match against Goa on Thursday, January 8.
Already knocked out of the tournament, Maharashtra suffered a horrific collapse and lost three wickets for just two runs. Batting at number five, Gaikwad then anchored his side to a competitive 249/7 in 50 overs with his stunning hundred.
He scored an unbeaten 134 runs off 131 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and six maximums to complete his second century of the league stage. Gaikwad previously smashed a ton against Uttarakhand.
He equalled the all-time tournament record for the most centuries in the tournament in just 59 innings. His teammate Ankit Bawne also hit 15 tons in the tournament across 94 innings. This is also his 20th hundred in only 95 innings, making him the quickest batter to reach the milestone. He also crossed the 5000 run-mark in List A cricket during his sensational knock.
Most Vijay Hazare Trophy hundreds
15 – Ruturaj Gaikwad in 59 innings
15 – Ankit Bawne in 94 innings
14 – Devdutt Padikkal in 35 innings
Last month, Gaikwad smashed his maiden ODI century for India in Raipur while batting at No. 4. However, he was dropped from the 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which will begin on January 11 in Baroda.
Hardik Pandya smashes nine maximums in explosive 75-run innings for Baroda
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya slammed a 19-ball fifty for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Chandigarh in Rajkot on Thursday. He scored 75 runs off 31 balls at a strike rate of 241.94, with the help of two boundaries and nine maximums.
Pandya scored his maiden List A century in the previous match against Vidarbha and came to bat at 123/4 after the dismissal of Krunal Pandya. He struck three maximums in his first five balls and scored 27 runs against Taranpreet Singh to reach his fifty in just 19 deliveries.
He then smashed three maximums in an over against Nishank Birla to cross the 70-run mark. But failed to register a second consecutive ton and was dismissed by Jagjit Singh in the 30th over. Baroda posted a 392-run target for Chandigarh, with Priyanshu Moliya scoring 113.