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Urvil Patel, a wicketkeeper-opener from Gujarat, recently created waves in Indian domestic cricket by smashing the second-fastest hundred in T20 cricket. This remarkable achievement, in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game against Tripura, saw him break Rishabh Pant’s record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian. His unbeaten 113 off just 35 balls, featuring 12 sixes, helped Gujarat chase down their target of 156 in a mere 10.2 overs. However, despite this meteoric performance, the talented cricketer is still waiting for his big break in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A Setback That Fueled His Fire
Urvil’s explosive knock came days after being overlooked at the IPL 2025 mega auction, leaving both him and his father, Mukesh Patel, disheartened. Mukesh, a former university-level sprinter who became a physical education teacher, has long harbored dreams of seeing his son excel at the highest level. Urvil channeled this disappointment into motivation, dedicating his record-breaking innings to his father.
“I told him this hundred was for him,” Urvil shared. “He has made so many sacrifices for my career. He would wake up at 4 a.m. to take me for practice and even stopped giving tuition to focus on my training.”
A History of Bouncing Back
This isn’t the first time Urvil has delivered a stunning performance after a career setback. In 2022, just a day after being released by Gujarat Titans (GT), he smashed a 41-ball hundred against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Such resilience has become a hallmark of Urvil’s career, demonstrating his ability to thrive under pressure.
While his most recent record-breaking knock came against a relatively weaker opposition, Urvil has consistently performed against stronger teams. Following his T20 century, he delivered a string of high-impact performances, including an 86 against Uttar Pradesh and a 116 against Himachal Pradesh.
The Journey So Far
Born in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Urvil began his cricket journey in Palanpur under the guidance of coach Prakash Patani. He made his T20 debut for Baroda in 2017-18, scoring a quickfire 50 against Mumbai. However, seeking better opportunities, he moved to Gujarat, where he has flourished as a white-ball cricketer.
In his career so far, Urvil has played 45 T20 matches, amassing 1014 runs at a strike rate of 161.72. His List A stats are equally impressive, with 415 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 111.26. Though he has dabbled in first-class cricket, his focus remains on white-ball formats, where his natural power-hitting abilities shine.
Lessons from the IPL
Urvil’s brief stint with the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, despite not featuring in a game, provided invaluable learning experiences. Observing stalwarts like Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan taught him the importance of professionalism, while veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha offered technical insights to refine his game.
“I spent a lot of time with Wriddhi bhai, discussing wicketkeeping techniques, especially movement behind the stumps. It helped me immensely,” Urvil recounted.
Looking Ahead
Urvil Patel’s ultimate dream is to don the Indian jersey. However, he remains grounded, focusing on incremental progress. “My goal is always to take one step forward from where I am today,” he stated. “For that, whatever runs I need to score, I need to score. Whatever skills I need to upgrade, I need to upgrade.”
While he continues to wait for his big break, Urvil’s performances are a testament to his talent and determination. With his ability to turn setbacks into opportunities, it’s only a matter of time before this rising star gets the recognition he deserves on a larger stage.
