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In a significant move aimed at bolstering their squad and planning for the future following a dismal Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have reportedly signed of Urvil Patel as a replacement player for the remainder of the tournament. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who recently etched his name in history books by smashing the fastest T20 century by an Indian, joins the Super Kings fold amidst their early elimination from the playoff race.
Urvil Patel impresses CSK team management
CSK’s campaign in IPL 2025 has not unfolded as per expectations, leading to a disappointing finish that prompted the franchise management to reassess their options and look towards fresh talent with high potential. Urvil fits this bill perfectly, bringing with him a reputation for explosive power-hitting, a quality that CSK is keen to integrate into their setup.
Hailing from Baroda, Urvil Patel shot into national prominence during the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It was in this domestic T20 competition that he unleashed a stunning assault, reaching a century in just 28 deliveries. This remarkable feat not only stands as the fastest T20 hundred ever scored by an Indian batter but also ranks as the second-fastest overall in the history of T20 cricket worldwide. His destructive innings, laced with a remarkable seven fours and an astounding 12 sixes, single-handedly dismantled the Tripura bowling attack. Batting for Gujarat, Urvil guided his team to comfortably chase down a target of 156, finishing unbeaten on a breathtaking 113 off a mere 35 balls.
Despite this extraordinary display of power-hitting and record-breaking performance, Urvil’s name surprisingly went unpicked during the high-profile IPL 2025 mega auction held earlier this year. This oversight raised eyebrows among cricket pundits and fans alike. Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer was among those who publicly expressed his astonishment at Urvil being overlooked by all ten franchises initially. However, sensing an opportunity, CSK reportedly kept a close watch on the young star, eventually calling him for mid-season trials as they explored options to inject firepower into their lineup.
The trials, conducted at CSK’s home base in Chennai in late April, proved to be the platform for Urvil to reiterate his credentials. Facing the CSK bowlers, he continued to showcase his aggressive batting style, leaving a strong impression on the team management and senior players present.
Urvil Patel family members confirms that CSK have signed Urvil Patel as replacement for this Season.
Urvil Patel – 26 YO WK Batsman who scored a 28 ball century in SMAT and 41 ball century in VHT !
— 🎰 (@StanMSD)
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Urvil was part of Gujarat Titans’ squad in IPL 2023
Urvil’s journey to the IPL has been one marked by perseverance and a consistent display of hitting prowess in domestic circuits. He made his debut for Baroda way back in 2018 but had to wait for six years before getting his maiden first-class cap. His prior association with the IPL includes a stint with Gujarat Titans (GT), who signed him ahead of the IPL 2023 season. However, he did not get a chance to feature in the playing eleven and was subsequently released by the franchise before the 2024 auction. Adding another highlight to his domestic career, shortly after being released by GT, Urvil smashed a 41-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic one-day competition, underscoring his versatility and power-hitting capabilities across formats.
For CSK, bringing in Urvil, even at this late stage of a difficult season, signals their intent to look ahead and build a formidable squad for the future. His inclusion provides them with a dynamic wicketkeeper-batting option capable of providing explosive starts or finishing innings effectively, a skill set that could become invaluable in upcoming seasons. While the immediate impact in IPL 2025 might be limited given CSK’s position, the signing of India’s fastest T20 centurion is a clear statement of intent towards strategic planning and harnessing exciting domestic talent.
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