Odisha opener Swastik Samal etched his name into the state's cricketing history on Wednesday with a breathtaking double century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Saurashtra.
The 25-year-old became the first batter from Odisha to score a List A double hundred, producing a knock that not only rewrote record books but also propelled his team to a commanding 345/6 after being sent in to bat.
Samal's innings now stands as the fifth-highest individual score in Vijay Hazare Trophy history, surpassing Yashasvi Jaiswal's celebrated 203 for Mumbai in 2019. Opening the innings, Samal set the tone early but had to dig deep as wickets tumbled around him. Odisha found themselves in early trouble after losing Om T Munde, Sandeep Pattanaik and Govind Poddar
inside the first 12 overs, sliding to 59/3.
The innings took a decisive turn when Samal was joined by captain Biplab Samantray. The duo stitched together a colossal 261-run partnership, completely shifting momentum in Odisha's favour. While Samal played the aggressor's role, Samantray provided stability and support, allowing the opener to unleash his full range. Their stand finally ended when Samantray was dismissed by Ankur Panwar, but by then the damage was well and truly done.
Samal's monumental knock was laced with 21 fours and eight sixes, underlining his ability to dominate bowling attacks across conditions. The effort came in just his 14th List A appearance and made him only the 14th Indian batter to reach the rare milestone of a double hundred in the format.
The performance carried added significance given Samal's recent disappointment at the IPL 2026 auction, where he went unsold along with teammate Rajesh Mohanty. Wednesday's innings served as a powerful reminder of his potential and resilience.
Samal's domestic journey has had its share of slow starts. He endured modest returns on debut across formats but has steadily built his game. In T20s, he has accumulated 362 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate of over 160, including a century. In first-class cricket, he has 686 runs from 12 matches, featuring two hundreds.
This double century could prove to be a defining moment in Samal's career, marking his arrival on the bigger domestic stage and firmly putting Odisha cricket in the national spotlight.
