Published By: Sanchari Das

Baroda Goes Bombastic, Thanks to THESE Ignored Players in IPL & IPL Auctions

Snubbed and sidelined at IPL auctions, Baroda's batting lineup struck back with a jaw-dropping 349-run innings in SMAT

Baroda rewrote history on Thursday, smashing their way to 349 runs for five wickets against Sikkim in Indore. This jaw-dropping feat marked the first time a team crossed the 300-run barrier in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Their record-breaking knock surpassed Zimbabwe's 344 against Gambia, set earlier in October this year.

Sikkim, in reply, crumbled to 86 for 7, with only two batters managing to score over 15. Interestingly, Baroda achieved this without Hardik Pandya, who had played in earlier matches but sat out for this one. The previous record in the tournament was Punjab's 275 against Andhra in the last edition. Now let's delve into the profiles, statistics, and IPL connections of the five stars of this remarkable game.

Shashwat Rawat

Shashwat Rawat opened the innings with a fiery knock. The 23-year-old left-hander smashed 43 off just 16 balls at a strike rate of 268.75. His knock featured 4 fours and as many sixes, setting the perfect foundation for Baroda's innings.

Rawat registered for the IPL 2025 auction with a base price of ₹30 lakhs. Despite his potential, he went unsold. In the 2024 Duleep Trophy, he had impressed with 256 runs in 4 innings. His overall T20 record stands at 152 runs in 5 matches with a strike rate of 165.21.

Abhimanyusingh Rajput

Abhimanyusingh Rajput followed with a blistering 53 off just 17 balls. The 26-year-old right-hander batted at a strike rate of 311.76, smashing 4 fours and 5 sixes. Rajput is not just a batter but also a medium-fast bowler with 15 wickets in T20 cricket, including best figures of 4/26.

Rajput registered for the IPL 2024 auction with a base price of ₹20 lakhs but went unsold. He chose not to participate in the IPL 2025 auction, focusing instead on domestic cricket. With 259 runs in 21 T20 matches and a handy bowling record, he is a valuable all-round option for Baroda.

Bhanu Pania

Bhanu Pania stole the show with an unbeaten 134 off just 51 balls. His breathtaking innings included 5 fours and 15 sixes, played at an incredible strike rate of 262.74. This was his maiden T20 century, and it came in style, as he brought up his half-century in 20 balls and his century in just 42.

Pania, 28, made his T20 debut in 2021 and has scored 595 runs in 36 matches at a strike rate of 152.56. Despite his exploits, he went unsold in the IPL auctions in 2023 and hasn't registered since. His heroics in this match could make him a contender for future IPL opportunities.

Shivalik Sharma

Wicketkeeper-batter Shivalik Sharma contributed a quickfire 55 off 17 balls at a strike rate of 323.52. His innings featured 3 fours and 6 sixes, providing the late push that took Baroda past 340.

Sharma was part of the IPL 2024 auction, where he was bought by the Mumbai Indians for ₹20 lakhs. However, he did not play a single game in that season. In the IPL 2025 auction, he entered with a base price of ₹30 lakhs but went unsold. The 26-year-old remains a dynamic player, showcasing his value with this innings.

Vishnu Solanki

Vishnu Solanki added the finishing touches to Baroda's monumental total, scoring 50 off just 16 balls. His knock included 2 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 312.50. A seasoned campaigner, Solanki has played 69 T20 matches, scoring 1,374 runs at an average of 31.22, including 7 fifties.

Despite his experience, Solanki went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, where he entered with a base price of ₹30 lakhs. This was his third unsuccessful attempt, having also gone unsold in the 2023 and 2024 auctions with a base price of 20 lakhs.