Mumbai has always been a breeding ground for homegrown talent, producing cricketing titans who have left their imprint on the world arena, including Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The most recent addition to that distinguished list is batter Ayush Mhatre, who is 17 years old.

At the Air Force Ground in Palam, Mumbai’s newest sensation, Ayush Mhatre, displayed his genius with a gritty and dominant knock of 116 runs on a difficult second day of the Ranji Trophy versus Services. The 17-year-old opener from Virar demonstrated that he deserves to be in the limelight only one day after being selected for India’s Under-19 team at the Asia Cup, despite his side facing challenges.

Mumbai’s stuttering start against Services’ total of 240 on Thursday came before Mhatre’s trip to the crease. Mumbai was reeling at 29/2 when Siddhesh Lad left for 10 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi dropped for only 1. The strain was evident. As bowler Varun Choudhary removed captain Ajinkya Rahane for only 19, cutting the team to a perilous 69 for three, the strain increased even more.

It was in this circumstance that Mhatre stepped up to the plate. With 12 boundaries and three soaring sixes in his innings of 116 off 149 balls, he demonstrated his ability to be resilient, adapt, and show off his brilliance without fear.

In light of his achievement, Mhatre respectfully credited the advice and assistance of more experienced players for his accomplishments. “Despite my early setbacks, I am grateful to Ajinkya Rahane for giving me the chance to express myself. It’s a dream come true to share the dressing room with greats like Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur, Mhatre said.

Rahane’s composed demeanor throughout the innings was essential. When I started to feel nervous, Rahane bhaiya suggested that I play my natural game. I was able to restore my calm thanks to his remarks,” he said.

For Mhatre, growing up in Virar, a town in the Thane district 46 kilometers from Mumbai’s cricketing center, meant early mornings and lengthy commutes. His grandpa, a former railway worker, made sure he never missed the 4:15 a.m. start time of his day in order to make a 5 a.m. train. Mhatre remembered gratefully that “my nana was the one who took me to Mumbai’s maidans every day for practice.”

With the help of his parents and the guidance of his maternal grandpa (nana) and uncle (chacha), Mhatre traveled by packed train from the bylanes of Virar to the Oval Maidan, where he developed his abilities. His resolve never faltered. He started playing cricket when he was five years old, but it wasn’t until he started scoring runs in school and club cricket at the age of fifteen that he realized he had the makings of a professional player.

A stroke of 254 not out in a private competition, which was his personal best, was a game-changer and gave him the courage to go higher. He was included in the MCA’s Under-19 team of the year and Mumbai’s Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy squad by December 2023.

Mhatre combined grace and power in his century against Services, his second in first-class cricket. With a well-timed pull shot from Nitin Yadav, which he modeled after his hero Rohit Sharma, he achieved the benchmark.

Mhatre said, “I try to imitate Rohit bhaiya because he plays the pull shot so well.” His maturity, developed over years of hard training, was evident in his ability to dominate the innings with strong pulls and drives.

Mumbai’s pivotal moment came from his combination with Shreyas Iyer, which was worth 109 runs off only 104 balls. Even though Iyer scored a quick 47, Mhatre’s guiding presence kept the innings steady. In addition to fixing the damage, they placed Mumbai in a strong position and gave them a narrow 13-run advantage against the Services. “Stabilizing the innings was crucial, and Shreyas bhai provided me with excellent support,” Mhatre said.

Because of his triumph over Ranji, Mhatre’s career has taken yet another dramatic turn. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently called the young opener for tryouts, which is an incredible chance for any budding cricket player.

“The talent scout team at CSK called me for a tryout. Even though playing with Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an enormous honor and every child’s dream, my current concentration is on red-ball cricket. Mhatre said, “I want to end the Ranji season with a bang.” His modesty and practical demeanor demonstrate his willingness to take on more difficult tasks while remaining dedicated to his short-term objectives.

It became clear as Mumbai’s innings went on that Mhatre’s arrival had energized the group. Shams Mulani and Mohit Awasthi made vital contributions, while Shardul Thakur’s outstanding four-wicket haul (4 for 46) meant that Services were bowled out for 240 despite the top order’s ongoing difficulties.

Mhatre’s ascent has been quite astounding. He showed his abilities at the BKC Academy earlier this season when he amassed a long innings of 176 against Maharashtra. He has been a vital member of Mumbai’s batting order thanks to his steady performances, and now that he has been selected for the U-19 team, he is poised for further opportunities.

The young batter has already started to establish himself on the national scene after being selected for the Under-19 Asia Cup. But for the time being, he is still focused on scoring runs, helping Mumbai win, and continuing to build on the potential that his century has shown.

“The efforts made in domestic cricket have paid off. I simply want to play cricket, and I am thankful for every chance. I am not in a rush to become famous,” Mhatre said in closing.