Swastik Chikara (294) and Sameer Rizvi (262) helped Uttar Pradesh set Gujarat a target of 969 in a 2024-25 Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at Valsad.
Having secured a lead of 170 against Gujarat in the first innings in the national Under-23 tournament, Uttar Pradesh were 101-1 when Rizvi joined Chikara. The pair scored at breakneck pace, adding 381 in only 56.1 overs (at 6.78 an over).
Sameer Rizvi and Swastik Chikara smash Gujarat
Rizvi, the quicker of the two batters by some distance, hit 21 fours and 20 sixes in 159 balls (fewer than a boundary every four balls), dominating the partnership with 262. Chikara continued after his departure, and was eventually sixth out, with the score on 667. His 294 took 362 balls, and included 22 fours and 18 sixes.
Captain Aaradhya Yadav (60) and Shubham Mishra (50 not out) kept the runs coming after that, and UP were eventually bowled out for 798. They set a target of 969, but the fourth innings never began as the match ended as a draw. For Gujarat, SM Prajapati returned 5-220 and Kushan Patel 4-212.
Aaradhya had made 118 in UP’s first innings of 400; Chikara had got 40, while Rizvi had fallen first ball. After that, Shubham Mishra (6-53) had reduced Gujarat to 97-6 before Prajapati (57) and captain Jay Malusare (41) had helped them recover to 230. Gujarat opener Rudra Mayur Patel, who had led India at the Under-19 World Cup a year ago, made six runs.
What are the T20 records of Chikara and Rizvi?
Only 19, Chikara has an IPL contract with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rizvi, 21, has already played for the Chennai Super Kings, and is part of the Delhi Capitals squad now.
With 499 runs at a strike rate of 186, Chikara was the leading run-scorer at the 2024 Uttar Pradesh T20 League, while Rizvi (469 at 163) was second. Chikara hit 47 sixes (and 29 fours) in that edition off only 269 balls.
