Odisha opener Swastik Samal created history against Saurashtra in the Group D match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Played at the KSCA Cricket Ground (Alur), he scored a brilliant 212 runs off 169 balls, including 21 fours and 8 sixes. This was his first century of his List A career, which was converted directly into a double century.
Swastik Chikara was unsold in the IPL 2026 auction
However, this impressive performance could not secure victory for Odisha. Batting first, the team scored 345 for 6, with captain Biplab Samantray making a crucial contribution of 100 runs (7 fours, 3 sixes) in 91 balls. The duo shared a 261-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
In reply, Saurashtra, thanks to Samar Gajjar’s unbeaten 132, Chirag Jani’s 86, and Vishvaraj Jadeja’s 50, achieved the target in 48.5 overs and won the match by 5 wickets. With this double century, Swastik Samal set several records. He became the first batsman from Odisha to score a double century in List A cricket and the 14th player from India to achieve the feat.
His score of 212 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is the joint fourth-highest individual score, equaling Sanju Samson’s 212* (2019).The 25-year-old right-handed batsman, who went unsold in the IPL 2026 mega auction, was born on July 27, 2000, in Koraput, Odisha. In first-class cricket, he has scored 686 runs in 12 matches at an average of 34.30, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
Before playing this match, he had 521 runs in 13 List A matches (now updated). In T20 cricket, he has played 13 matches, scoring 362 runs, including one century and two half-centuries.