With Pune set to host the crucial fourth T20I, we look back at the biggest individual innings played at this iconic venue
With India leading the five-match T20I series 2-1, the action now moves to Pune for a crucial fourth match. England will be anxious to level the series, while India will try to seal the deal with one game to spare. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium has a history of exciting games, frequently favouring batters who dare to attack the bowlers. Over the years, some tremendous knocks have lighted up this venue; can a new record be set on January 31? Let's take a look at the top individual scores in Pune's T20I history.
Axar Patel’s scintillating knock of 65 off just 31 balls against Sri Lanka in 2023 remains the highest individual score at this venue. Despite his brilliance, India fell short while chasing 207 in the second T20I. Walking in at 57/5, Axar joined hands with Suryakumar Yadav to forge a counter-attacking 91-run stand. He reached his maiden T20I fifty in just 20 balls, hammering six sixes and three fours. Notably, his 65 remains the highest score by an Indian batting at number seven or below in T20Is, surpassing Ravindra Jadeja’s 44* against Australia in 2020. Axar also shone with the ball, picking up 2/24, but his efforts couldn’t prevent Sri Lanka from levelling the series.
Back in 2020, Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva fought a lone battle against a dominant Indian bowling attack. Chasing 202 in the series decider, Sri Lanka crumbled under pressure, but De Silva stood tall, scoring 57 off 36 balls. He smashed eight boundaries and a six, striking at an impressive 158.33. His knock brought some respectability to Sri Lanka’s total, but with little support from the other end, they were bundled out for 123. India, led by their superior batting and bowling display, sealed the series 2-0 with a commanding 78-run victory.
Dasun Shanaka once again proved why he is Sri Lanka’s go-to man in T20Is. In 2023, he played a match-winning knock of 56* off just 22 balls against India at the MCA Stadium. Walking in at 110/4 in the 14th over, Shanaka turned the game around with a blistering display of power-hitting. He slammed six sixes and two fours, racing to his fifty in just 20 balls—the fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20Is. His late onslaught powered Sri Lanka to a formidable 206/6. To top it off, Shanaka bowled the final over of India’s chase, taking two wickets to seal a thrilling 16-run win.
The first-ever T20I at the MCA Stadium saw England opener Alex Hales announce himself in style. In 2012, he played a blazing knock of 56 off 35 balls against India. Hales took the attack to the Indian pacers, smashing seven fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 160. England were cruising at 76/1 before Yuvraj Singh derailed their innings with a game-changing spell. Hales, however, ensured England posted a competitive 157/6. But Yuvraj wasn’t done yet—he followed up with a fiery 38 off 21 balls, helping India chase down the target comfortably with 13 balls to spare.
