Mumbai's Teen Sensation Creates Cricket History
Indian cricket has witnessed the emergence of a new batting prodigy as 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre shattered a prestigious world record previously held by Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The young Mumbai batsman became the youngest player in cricket history to score centuries across all three formats - First-Class, List A, and T20 cricket.
Record-Breaking Performance in Lucknow
Mhatre achieved this remarkable milestone during Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Vidarbha at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium B in Lucknow. The right-handed batsman displayed exceptional power-hitting and composure beyond his years, smashing an unbeaten century to guide his team to a convincing victory.
Chasing a challenging target of 193 runs, Mhatre's explosive innings featured eight boundaries and eight sixes, demonstrating his wide range of strokes and ability to handle pressure. His brilliant performance ensured Mumbai clinched victory with seven wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare, showcasing his match-winning capabilities.
Surpassing a Cricket Legend
At just 18 years and 134 days, Mhatre surpassed Rohit Sharma's previous record of achieving the all-format century milestone at 19 years and 339 days. Rohit had completed his set when he scored the first T20 hundred by an Indian batter back in early 2007 for Mumbai, making Mhatre's achievement even more significant as he broke a record held by one of Mumbai's most celebrated cricketing sons.
The historic moment places Mhatre at the top of an elite list of young batting talents:
- Ayush Mhatre (India) - 18 years, 135 days
- Rohit Sharma (India) - 19 years, 339 days
- Unmukt Chand (India) - 20 years, 0 days
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - 20 years, 62 days
- Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) - 20 years, 97 days
Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Mhatre's record-breaking T20 century came in only his ninth senior-level T20 match, highlighting his rapid adaptation to top-level cricket. He had made his T20 debut earlier this year during the IPL 2025 season for Chennai Super Kings, and his performances have already earned him retention by the five-time champions ahead of the IPL 2026 auction in December.
The batting prodigy's journey mirrors the classic Mumbai cricket success story. He would wake up daily at 4:15 AM to catch the 5 AM train from Virar, traveling 46 kilometers to reach the famous Oval maidan for practice sessions. This dedication and hard work have clearly paid dividends in his development as a cricketer.
Mhatre's connection with Mumbai cricket runs deep. Last year, as a 17-year-old, he made headlines when he scored his maiden Ranji Trophy century using a bat gifted by another Mumbai batting prodigy, Prithvi Shaw. "I had asked for his bat and he gave it to me. I scored a hundred with it today," Mhatre had revealed, highlighting the mentorship and support system within Mumbai's cricketing circles.
Building an Impressive Resume
This isn't the first world record the young batsman has claimed. In January 2025, Mhatre broke the List A world record as the youngest-ever centurion in the format, aged 17 years and 168 days, when he scored a massive 181 runs against Nagaland.
His expanding range and maturity have been noted by cricket experts quite early in his career. Mhatre's leadership qualities have also been recognized, as he is likely to lead India at the upcoming U-19 World Cup in January 2026. Before that, he will captain the India Under-19 team at the ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai starting December 12.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the continental event, with Mhatre leading the side that includes aggressive opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Vihaan Malhotra will serve as Mhatre's deputy during the competition.
India finds itself in Group A alongside Pakistan and two qualifying teams, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and another qualifier constitute Group B. This leadership opportunity adds another dimension to Mhatre's rapidly developing career profile.
Mhatre's historic achievement in Lucknow not only establishes him as the youngest all-format centurion in cricket history but also signals the arrival of another potential batting superstar from Mumbai's prolific cricket production line. His ability to handle pressure, clear boundaries with ease, and break records at such a young age suggests Indian cricket might have found its next big batting sensation.
