Anmolpreet Singh Smashes Third-Fastest List A Century in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Anmolpreet Singh, Punjab's top-order batter, entered cricket history books by scoring the third-fastest century in List A cricket. The 35-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh reflected his explosive batting prowess and left him only behind Jake Fraser-McGurk and AB de Villiers in the record books.

Anmolpreet was sent in at No. 3 much early in Punjab's innings following captain Abhishek Sharma had fallen in the second over. Right from the word go, it was quite visible that he meant business. When Anmolpreet pulled out his hundred in merely 35 balls laced with 11 fours and eight sixes, it was much more like he was going to change the look of the game single-handedly. His blitzkrieg innings left the Arunachal Pradesh bowlers dazed, and off-spinner Techi Neri felt the major brunt, giving way to a whopping 31 runs from his solitary over.

Punjab chased down the modest 164-run total by Arunachal Pradesh in just 12.5 overs thanks to Anmolpreet's heroics as they achieved a comfortable nine-wicket victory. At one end, he remained unbeaten on 115 off 45 balls, while adding one more four and six after his century. On the other end was Prabhsimran Singh, who had a good knock of calm 35 off 25 balls. 

Anmolpreet's achievement puts him alongside the likes of AB de Villiers and some of the promising talents like Jake Fraser-McGurk. The fastest List A century was scored by Fraser-McGurk, who hit a 29-ball ton for South Australia against Tasmania in the Marsh Cup in 2023. Before his feat, AB de Villiers had set the benchmark for himself with a 31-ball century in an ODI against West Indies in Johannesburg in January 2015. That was the fastest ODI century till date by De Villiers.

Anmolpreet's IPL Journey and Future Prospects

 Despite his great performances at home, Anmolpreet's journey in the IPL has not been great. He played for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) earlier but delivered moderate returns. This inconsistency saw him go unsold in the latest IPL auction. Still, his recent performance could see him regain interest in himself and position him as a wanted player for future T20 leagues.

This 35-ball century not only makes Anmolpreet a potential player but also places him in elite company. AB de Villiers has been known for his unusual shots and the ability to dominate bowlers, and was the benchmark for explosive batting in ODIs. The previous record holder was Corey Anderson of New Zealand, who had briefly achieved this record before De Villiers scored his 36-ball century against West Indies in 2014. Anmolpreet's achievement is a reflection of the development of power-hitting in modern cricket where players are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Key Takeaways from the Match

• The manner in which Anmolpreet was taking on both pacers and spinners with equal ferocity was a highlight of the innings.

• While an innings of the kind in which Anmolpreet played stole the show, Prabhsimran Singh's resistance ensured that Punjab maintained control throughout the chase.

• Inability of Arunachal Pradesh bowlers to pull off a comeback against Punjab indicates the void in experience and skill

Impact on Anmolpreet's Career

• This innings can be a turning point for Anmolpreet Singh, rejuvenating his cricketing journey and making him a strong contender for future IPL contracts and perhaps even a national call-up. His ability to perform under pressure and score at a breakneck pace demonstrates his readiness for high-stakes matches.

Conclusion

Anmolpreet Singh's third-fastest hundred in List A cricket proves his greatness and determination. Domestic cricket has never seen him produce anything like that before; with this match-winning century, he again reminded everyone how big a future he will have on big platforms. The cricket world noticed his blasting performance when he set himself up to potentially have one of the great careers of all time.