Urvil Patel had a night that will live long in IPL memory on Sunday. Coming into his clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the 27-year-old had looked set but not quite converted in his previous outings—he made 24 against Mumbai Indians and followed it with 17 versus Delhi Capitals. Then against Lucknow Super Giants, he flipped the script in style, launching a blazing innings that produced the joint-fastest half-century in the history of the tournament. In the same burst, Urvil etched his name into the record books by becoming the first batter to strike six maximums in just eight deliveries, giving Chennai Super Kings a huge surge as they chased a target of 204.
By the time he was dismissed, having struck 65 off 23 balls, Urvil had already won over plenty of supporters. One person he was especially pleased to see watching was Virat Kohli. In Raipur, Kohli was getting ready for his match against Mumbai Indians when he noticed Urvil’s game being broadcast live. As the footage rolled and Urvil continued his assault, Kohli stopped in his tracks, clearly drawn to the batter’s rhythm and shot-making.
While Kohli got a front-row view of Urvil in full flow, the batsman saved his biggest gratitude for several people who helped shape his journey. The heartfelt acknowledgements began with his father, whose constant encouragement and steadfast belief helped Urvil chase his dreams. Urvil also made sure to highlight the influence of MS Dhoni on his innings.
After the match, Urvil explained what Dhoni had said to him: “When I spoke to Mahi bhai after getting out in two matches. We were sitting together in the dressing room, and I asked him, ‘I am getting out after getting starts. What should I do to convert it?’ He replied, ‘I don’t doubt your skills, but I think it’s in your mind, so just try to stay clear and try to hit the right ball at the right place.’ He is the first person I will thank for speaking to me. It made me feel good and confident about a good performance. He would be extremely happy today.”
The Dhoni influence behind Urvil’s burst
Urvil’s aggressive timing also came with a clear message from his captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who told him the surface was offering something for batters. Even though the pitch looked slightly on the lower side, once Urvil struck his first six, he sensed the innings could open up. He then raced through a stretch where he cleared the ropes five times in succession, though the sixth attempt didn’t go the distance. Still, missing out on matching Riyan Parag’s eight-six haul in 23 balls didn’t take away from the impact—smashing eight maximums in that quick span remains a standout achievement, even in a season packed with high-scoring contests.
“I didn’t think I had to hit every ball for a six”
Urvil also shared how his mindset shifted during the set: “When I hit the fourth six, I thought I could go six out of six. But when the sixth went for a four, I was a little unhappy because I tried to hit it hard. At the end of the day, I felt good that this time I wanted to hit where the ball was. I didn’t think that I had to hit all the balls for a six. It’s very difficult to hit a six on every ball at this level.”
