In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Baroda wicketkeeper-batsman Amit Pasi recently scored a world-record-equalling 114 not out on his T20 debut, instantly turning himself into one of the hottest domestic prospects in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. With franchises constantly on the lookout for raw Indian talent who can strike big at the top, Pasi's heroics have put him on the radar of every scout.
Notably, the young player, who had no prior experience at the senior level, had never played List A or first-class cricket before the game. His opportunity only came because regular keeper Jitesh Sharma left for national duty ahead of India's T20I series against South Africa. Opening the innings against Services in Hyderabad, he completed his half-century in just 24 balls and later completed his maiden T20I century in 44 balls. By the time he scored 114 runs in 55 balls with the help of 10 fours and nine sixes, he had registered his name in the history books.
Why is Amit Pasi the next target of IPL franchises in the 2026 auction?
Pasi's inning equaled the world record of Pakistan's Bilal Asif for the highest score ever on T20 debut. It is worth noting, he became the highest-scoring Indian batsman on T20 debut, surpassing Shivam Bhambri and Akshat Reddy, both of whom had also scored debut centuries in previous editions of the SMAT. He is only the tenth batsman in world cricket to score a century on T20 debut, and the second wicketkeeper to do so.
His innings also came when Baroda were trying to post a strong score in a tough Elite Group C encounter. He made a 60-run partnership with Shivalik Sharma and later added 75 runs with captain Vishnu Solanki in just 32 balls. With his innings, Baroda managed to score 220 runs for five wickets and ultimately won by 13 runs.
For IPL scouts, what stands out most is Pasi's hitting ability and the composure he has shown despite making his debut at the senior level. Furthermore, his wicketkeeping abilities matter a lot for teams looking for a backup Indian keeper, who can also be a reliable top-order batsman. With IPL 2026 set to see a bidding war for home-grown talent, Pasi has rightfully placed himself among them. The world-record innings on debut has done more than grab headlines and attract the franchise's attention.
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