Baroda etched its name in cricket history by recording the highest-ever team total in T20 cricket, amassing a colossal 349/5 against Sikkim in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This breathtaking performance surpassed the previous record of 344/4 set by Zimbabwe against Gambia in October 2024.

The match also saw Baroda obliterate multiple records, including hitting the most sixes (37) in a T20 innings, overtaking Zimbabwe’s 27 sixes from the same fixture. Baroda’s 294 runs via boundaries (fours and sixes) set yet another benchmark in the format.

A Historic Feat in Indian Cricket

Baroda became the first Indian domestic side to breach the 300-run mark in T20 cricket, achieving the milestone in just 17.2 overs. The team’s total is the first-ever 300+ score in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and only the third such instance in T20 history.

This extraordinary performance kept Baroda’s knockout hopes alive, as they needed a mammoth victory margin to secure progression without relying on other results.

Bhanu Pania’s Blistering Century Leads the Charge

At the heart of this record-breaking display was Bhanu Pania, who smashed an astonishing 134 off just 51 balls at a strike rate of 262.75. Pania’s innings included five boundaries and an incredible 15 sixes, making him the chief architect of Baroda’s dominance.

Supporting Pania’s heroics were quickfire half-centuries from Abhimanyu Singh (53), Shivalik Sharma (55), and Vishnu Solanki (50). Together, the quartet demolished the Sikkim bowling attack, with all four crossing 50 runs, a rarity in T20 cricket.

Sikkim Succumbs Under Pressure

In response, Sikkim crumbled under the weight of Baroda’s massive total. By the 17th over, they were struggling at 63/6, with no batter able to resist Baroda’s disciplined bowling attack. A crushing defeat loomed large for Sikkim as Baroda secured the decisive victory they needed.

This resounding win not only boosted Baroda’s confidence but also secured their place in the tournament’s knockout stage. The team delivered an explosive batting performance that could make them formidable contenders in the latter stages.

Baroda’s head coach lauded the effort, saying, “It was a complete team performance. Bhanu’s innings was special, and the entire batting unit stepped up. This win gives us great momentum heading into the knockouts.”