IPL 2025: Who is Urvil Patel — CSK’s new hard-hitting sensation from Gujarat? Here’s everything you need to know about him.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) journey for 26-year-old Urvil Patel started from disappointment as he wasn’t picked by any franchise in the mega auction. However, the lows suddenly became highs as the batter from Gujarat was signed by Chennai Super Kings as Vansh Bedi’s replacement.
“When I wasn’t picked, I was disappointed a bit because playing in the IPL is the dream for many cricketers. Having played cricket for a decent amount of time, one thing I have understood is that cricket is a great leveller, it will provide you with some great moments and a few bad ones too, so staying neutral is the best way to deal with it,” Urvil Patel, had said in an interview with India TV after not getting picked in the auction. Like many aspiring cricketers, he dreamt of making it to the league that is the biggest T20 tournament in the world. But as fate would have it, his IPL debut came not through the auction but as a replacement for an injured player.
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From undrafted to unmissable
Patel’s big break came during a match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. CSK was chasing 180, and the crowd was buzzing to see Ayush Mhatre, who had just played a stunning knock of 94 in his last game. But Mhatre was dismissed for a duck. In walked Urvil Patel.
After playing one dot ball, Urvil flicked a stylish six over deep mid-wicket. That shot was a signal of what was to come. He went on to hit three more sixes and a four, scoring 31 off just 11 balls. His strike rate? A staggering 281.82. Though it was his first IPL appearance, this level of hitting wasn’t new to those who had followed his domestic performances.
Urvil had made headlines in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25 by scoring two of the fastest T20 hundreds by an Indian. His 35-ball 113* against Tripura included 12 sixes and 7 fours, helping Gujarat chase down 156 in just 10.2 overs. Then, he followed it up with another 36-ball century against Uttarakhand. He finished that tournament with 315 runs from six innings, at a strike rate of nearly 230 and an average of 78.75. He also hit the most sixes in the season, i.e., 29, two more than Rajat Patidar.
His ability to go after the bowlers from the very first ball and his consistency made him one of the most feared batters in domestic T20s.
Aggressive Opener 💛
— Kunal Bishwal 🇮🇳 (@KunalBishwal07) May 5, 2025
Urvil Patel 🔥pic.twitter.com/eRYoNDoGH5
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A cricketer shaped by patience and power
Born on October 17, 1998, in Mehsana, Urvil is not new to professional cricket. He has played for Gujarat in domestic tournaments and was even part of the Gujarat Titans squad in IPL 2023. But he never got a game.
Despite being part of a franchise earlier, Urvil went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. He had registered at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, but no team picked him initially. Meanwhile, CSK had signed Vansh Bedi for Rs 55 lakh. Bedi, however, suffered an injury just before a match against RCB. Deepak Hooda took Bedi’s place in that game, but CSK needed a like-for-like replacement. That’s when Urvil Patel was signed.
CSK invited both Urvil and Ayush Mhatre for trials after their regular captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was also ruled out due to injury. While Mhatre made a name for himself with his performances, Urvil grabbed his chance with both hands when it came.
He has now played 48 T20 matches, scoring 1193 runs, including 2 hundreds and 4 fifties.
Urvil Patel making a statement on arrival.
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 7, 2025
A powerful six to kick things off! 🚀
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/8mOnZZI3Hm #IPLRace2Playoffs 👉 #KKRvCSK | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/yeGtGufHPD
Beyond the numbers
What makes Urvil Patel’s story special is not just the statistics, but the mindset with which he approaches the game. Even after not getting picked in the auction, he chose to stay focused rather than frustrated. He believes in staying level-headed and letting his game speak.
His story is also a reminder of how opportunities in sport often come when one least expects them. While the disappointment of going unsold could have weighed him down, Urvil stayed ready. And when the chance came, he made it count.
He also proved that domestic performances do get noticed, even if not immediately. His two centuries in the SMAT, followed by a career-best 140 against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final, all point to a player who is ready for the big stage.
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