In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Baroda’s wicketkeeper-batter Amit Passi recently smashed a world-record-equalling unbeaten 114 on his T20 debut, instantly turning himself into one of the hottest domestic prospects heading into the IPL 2026 mini-auction. With franchises constantly searching for raw Indian talent who can strike big at the top, Passi’s heroics have placed him on every scout’s radar.
Notably, the youngster who had no prior senior-level experience had never played List A or first-class
cricket before this game. His opportunity came only because regular keeper Jitesh Sharma had left for national duty ahead of India’s T20I series against South Africa. Opening the innings against Services in Hyderabad, he raced to a half-century in just 24 balls and later brought up his maiden T20 century in 44 deliveries. By the time he finished on 114 off 55 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and nine sixes, he had registered his name in history books.
Why is Amit Passi the IPL franchisees' next target in Auction 2026
Passi’s knock equaled Pakistan’s Bilal Asif’s world record for the highest ever score on T20 debut. It is worth noting, he became the highest-scoring Indian batter on T20 debut, surpassing the likes of Shivam Bhambri and Akshath Reddy, both of whom also scored debut tons in previous editions of SMAT. He is only the tenth batter in world cricket to score a century on T20 debut, and just the second wicketkeeper to do so.
His innings also came when Baroda were looking to post a strong total in a tough Elite Group C clash. He stitched a 60-run stand with Shivalik Sharma and later added 75 off just 32 balls with captain Vishnu Solanki. His innings helped Baroda reach 220 for five, eventually securing a 13-run win.
For IPL scouts, what stands out is Passi’s hitting ability and the composure he displayed despite debuting at the senior level. Moreover, his wicketkeeping ability adds immense value for teams looking for a backup Indian keeper who can also be a reliable top-order batter. With IPL 2026 set to witness bidding wars for domestic talents, Passi has rightly placed himself amongst them. A world-record knock on debut has done more than create headlines and draw franchisees' attention towards him.
