Hyderabad opener Aman Rao was within the limelight in the course of the current Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. After having impressed in the course of the season and subsequently earned an IPL 2026 bid on the auctions final month, the 21-year-old made heads activate Tuesday in Rajkot, cracking an unbeaten double century in solely his third look within the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Taking up an skilled Bengal tempo assault led by India internationals Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, an unfazed Rao led the inspiration of the Hyderabad innings with a flawless knock. Having returned with scores of solely 39 and 13 in his earlier two outings within the match, the Wisconsin-born Rao reached his maiden Checklist A half-century in 65 balls and progressively tuned his assault in opposition to a high quality Bengal bowling line-up.
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Rao reached his maiden Checklist A century in 108 balls earlier than doubling up his tally inside the subsequent 46 deliveries. He completed with 12 fours and 13 sixes and took a specific liking to the vaunted tempo trio. Rao clubbed 120 runs off Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh, smashing eight sixes in opposition to them. It appeared as if Rao may narrowly miss out on the landmark within the ultimate over bowled by Akash Deep. Nonetheless, the teenager held his nerve whereas batting on 194* and smoked the ultimate supply within the blockhole over long-on for six and completed with precisely 200 runs in 154 deliveries.
Rao is just the fifteenth Indian man to report a double century within the Checklist A format. It’s also the second-highest rating of the continued VHT version, following Odisha opener Swastik Samal’s 212, one other batter who had additionally transformed his maiden fifty-plus rating within the format right into a whopping double century.
6⃣,4⃣,4⃣,6⃣,4⃣
🎥 A fiery begin to Hyderabad’s run chase within the very first over, courtesy of Aman Rao. 👏
Hyderabad win the competition in opposition to Mumbai by 9 wickets in Pune.
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/RxwfJDx3Ud#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/jsUrECFWGF
— BCCI Home (@BCCIdomestic) December 12, 2025
Rao had garnered consideration in the course of the SMAT 2025-26 season along with his quickfire half-century in opposition to Mumbai, throughout which he smashed India all-rounder Shardul Thakur for twenty-four runs within the opening over of a 132-run chase. What now looks as if a steal deal, the 21-year-old Rao was roped in by the Rajasthan Royals on the IPL 2026 Public sale in Abu Dhabi final month at his base worth of Rs 30 lakh.