The name on the teamsheet said Karnataka Under-19. The name on everyone’s lips by the end of the evening was Dravid. Rahul Dravid’s younger son Anvay smashed a breathtaking 151 off just 100 balls on Friday as Karnataka pulled off a mammoth 352-run chase to beat Gujarat and storm into the Vinoo Mankad Trophy knockouts at the Vizzy Stadium in Vizianagaram.
- A chase that refused to follow the script
- The 203-run partnership that broke Gujarat
- Form that demands attention
- Why this innings matters
- FAQs
- Who is Anvay Dravid?
- How many runs did Anvay Dravid score against Gujarat?
- What was the target Karnataka chased?
- Who was Anvay Dravid’s partner in the big stand?
- Has Anvay Dravid played for India Under-19 before?
Chasing a revised target of 352 under the VJD method after rain interrupted proceedings, Karnataka were in serious trouble at 63 for 2 in the 12th over. What followed was one of the finest run chases in recent under-19 cricket, with 17-year-old Anvay Dravid leading from the front as captain and finishing with a 20-fours, three-sixes masterclass.
A chase that refused to follow the script
Gujarat had done almost everything right in the first innings. Sameer Bhandari (119 not out off 88 balls) and Yash Panjwani (106 not out off just 57 balls) launched a stunning counter-attack after their side had slumped to 140 for 4 in the 30.3rd over. Their unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 217 runs came off barely 19 overs and carried Gujarat to a towering 357 for 4 in their 50 overs.
When Karnataka’s chase stuttered early, the game looked like it was following a familiar script. Then Anvay walked in at number four and rewrote it. He reached his half-century in a hurry, brought up his hundred off 79 balls, and then went into overdrive, racing from 100 to 150 in just 18 deliveries. The 43rd over went for 20 runs as he torched the Gujarat attack, and by the time he fell in the next over, victory was all but assured.
The 203-run partnership that broke Gujarat
Anvay was not alone in the carnage. Dhruv Krishnan produced a century of his own, smashing 131 off 100 balls in a breathtaking display of strokeplay. The two added 203 runs for the third wicket in just over 26 overs, a partnership that swung the game irreversibly Karnataka’s way.
It was the kind of stand that drains the energy out of a bowling side. Boundaries flowed on both sides of the wicket, the running between the wickets was sharp, and every time Gujarat’s bowlers tried to apply the brakes, either Anvay or Dhruv found a release shot. Karnataka eventually finished at 352 for 5 in 45.3 overs, winning with five wickets in hand and plenty to spare.
Form that demands attention
This was no one-off. Anvay’s 151 was his second hundred in three innings in the tournament, following his 104 off 62 balls against Chandigarh. He had earlier smashed an unbeaten 85 off just 41 balls against Delhi, and his only failure in the competition so far was an 18 against Jharkhand in a match Karnataka lost while defending 194.
Even before this tournament, the signs were there. In September, he hammered 38 off 18 balls for India Under-19 in a youth ODI against Australia, and in July he made an impressive 87 off 67 balls in a youth ODI against Sri Lanka. The wicketkeeper-batter is clearly a step ahead of his age group right now.
The inevitable comparisons with his father will follow him everywhere, and honestly, Friday’s knock had a Dravid-like quality in its timing even if the tempo was very modern. The Wall was famous for pacing chases to perfection. His son paced this one to perfection too, only at a strike rate of 151.
Why this innings matters
- Knockout pressure: Karnataka needed the win to reach the knockouts, and Gujarat’s 357 had put them under genuine pressure. Chasing the second-highest sort of target under those conditions shows temperament.
- Captain’s knock: Leading the side at 17, Anvay walked in at 63 for 2 and took complete control. That is the sort of innings selection committees remember.
- Consistency: Two hundreds and a 85 not out in four innings is not a purple patch. It is a statement of form across the tournament.
- The bigger picture: With India keeping a close eye on its next generation of batters, performances like this put a player firmly on the radar for higher honours.
FAQs
Who is Anvay Dravid?
Anvay Dravid is the 17-year-old younger son of former India captain Rahul Dravid. He is a wicketkeeper-batter who captains Karnataka in the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy.
How many runs did Anvay Dravid score against Gujarat?
Anvay scored 151 runs off 100 balls, including 20 fours and three sixes. It was his second century in three innings in the tournament.
What was the target Karnataka chased?
Karnataka chased a revised target of 352 under the VJD method after Gujarat posted 357 for 4 in their 50 overs. Karnataka finished at 352 for 5 in 45.3 overs to win by five wickets.
Who was Anvay Dravid’s partner in the big stand?
Dhruv Krishnan scored 131 off 100 balls and shared a 203-run partnership for the third wicket with Anvay in just over 26 overs.
Has Anvay Dravid played for India Under-19 before?
Yes. He impressed in youth ODIs against Australia (38 off 18 in September) and Sri Lanka (87 off 67 in July) earlier this year.
Karnataka march on to the knockouts, and Indian cricket has another Dravid to watch. If Friday was any indication, the surname still carries weight. The kid can play.
