Chennai Super Kings batter Ayush Mhatre scored a rapid fifty on his debut for India A during the team's first unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru.
Ayush Mhatre hits fifty on India A debut
After the Hermann brothers each struck half-centuries to propel South Africa to 309 in their first innings, India mounted a solid response. The openers – Mhatre and India Test No.3 Sai Sudharsan – put on 90 runs, a partnership dominated by the former, who was making his debut for India A. Mhatre scored 65 off 76 balls, laced with 10 fours, before being dismissed by off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen in the 22nd over.
His dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse, as India were bowled out for 234. Subrayen was the wrecker-in-chief, taking 5-61 to secure a crucial 75-run first-innings lead for his side.
1st unofficial Test, India A vs South Africa A
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Mhatre finds form after tough Australia tour
With this fifty, Mhatre will hope that he has finally left his lean patch behind him. Ever since his 80-ball 126 against England U19 in a Youth Test back in July, he had failed to pass fifty in his next six innings for India U19. Although he captained the side to a series whitewash in the Youth ODIs, his personal returns were meagre, with scores of 6, 0, and 4. This poor run of form continued in his dominant format, Youth Tests (where he averages 54.00); he managed just 21, 4, and 13 in the red-ball leg of the tour.
This is not the first time Mhatre has made an immediate impact on his debut for an Indian team; he also scored 102 against England U19 last July in his maiden Youth Test appearance.
Mhatre was brought in by Chennai Super Kings as an injury replacement for the IPL 2025 season. At 17 years and 278 days, he became the franchise’s youngest debutant. Mhatre was one of the few bright spots in CSK's wooden-spoon campaign, scoring 240 runs at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 188.97, including a 48-ball 94 against eventual champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
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