In a thrilling IPL encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre played the innings of his fledgling career, falling just six runs short of a maiden IPL century. But it wasn’t the missed milestone that dominated post-match discussions — it was Mhatre’s selfless approach that won hearts and praise, including from former India opener Virender Sehwag.
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Mhatre, whose 94 off 48 balls nearly pulled off an improbable win for Chennai Super Kings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was undone in the 17th over by a slower delivery. But Sehwag believes the young batter’s intent was never personal glory.
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“He played according to the ball that was bowled to him. He missed his shot, otherwise, in fact, it was a ball that should have been ideally struck for a six,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
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“If he was thinking about his hundred, he would have not played that shot. That means he wanted to get a boundary early in the over — he was thinking about the team,” former India opener added.
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Mhatre and Ravindra Jadeja (77* off 45) stitched a vital 114-run stand after CSK lost two quick wickets in the powerplay. Chasing 214, they came agonisingly close, finishing at 211/5.
Despite the loss, Mhatre’s fearless knock — built on raw power, timing, and temperament — showcased his maturity beyond years. His rise from Mumbai’s Oval Maidan nets to nearly winning an IPL classic under lights earned the admiration of fans and pundits alike.
