Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul, the former India coach and captain made a fighting hundred in the fourth 2024-25 Vijay Merchant Trophy Trophy quarter-final between Karnataka and Punjab.
After electing to bat first, Punjab feasted on the Karnataka bowlers racking up 742-9 before declaring their first innings. In response, Karnataka were jolted early on after losing opener Arya J Gowda for a duck. No.3 batter Syaamantak Anirudh got in to put on a 90-run stand for the third wicket with Dhruv Krishnan before departing for 31.
Anirudh’s dismissal brought in Anvay, the team’s designated wicketkeeper, at No.4 to the crease. While Anvay kept the scoreboard ticking, Karnataka soon lost Krishnan for 73 triggering a collapse from 130-2 to 181-6.
The flurry of wickets, however, couldn’t deter Anvay’s confidence as he marched on to bring up his century off 198 deliveries. In a rearguard action, Dhyaan M Hiremath (33) and Anvay (57) put the Karnataka bowlers at bay for 202 deliveries, scoring 95 in the process. M Hiremath’s 114-ball vigil finally came to an end when Saksheya dismissed him in the 109th over to claim his fifth wicket of the innings.
Six innings, a batting average of 664 (!) and now, a record shared with Kumar Sangakkara💪
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Atharv Deshpande from No.9 batted 28 balls for his one to ensure the match ended in a draw. They finished at 280-7 with Anvay remaining unbeaten on 110 off 234. Both Punjab and Karnataka finished as the table toppers of their respective groups. Despite the draw Punjab progressed to the semi-finals for securing a first-innings lead in the quarter-final.
Anvay’s innings was studded with 12 fours. That was Anvay's second hundred in the tournament this year, having scored one against Jharkhand earlier. He also has three half-centuries to his name this year.
His elder brother, 19-year-old Samit, an all-rounder, also made notable strides lately. He was part of the multi-format home series against Australia U-19 in September and October after playing in the Maharaja T20 Trophy for Mysuru Warriors in what was his first T20 contract.
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