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Punjab's emerging cricketer Salil Arora turned heads with his explosive ton against Jharkhand in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 match against Jharkhand, held at the D.Y. Patil Academy in Pune. The 23-year-old took just 39 balls complete his century and grab everyone's attention right ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. He ended up smashing an unbeaten 125 which was decorated with nine fours and 11 towering sixes. Riding on Salil's blitzkrieg Punjab posted a formidable first-innings total of 235/6.
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Salil Arora wreaks havoc with 39-ball century in SMAT
What makes Salil's knock more special is the slot he batted to wreak havoc. He came at number five and finished his innings unbeaten on 125 runs off just 45 deliveries. His attack was particularly devastating on bowler Sushant Mishra, who conceded three sixes and a four in the final over of the innings. This extraordinary performance has significantly raised Arora’s profile, positioning him as a strong contender for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. He is listed in the wicket-keeper category with a base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Salil Arora turns heads ahead of IPL 2026 auction
Given that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly searching for an Indian wicket-keeper, they may show interest in bidding for Arora at the auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. His aggressive batting style could make him a valuable addition to any squad, despite having played just seven T20 games prior to this match. The dasher's previous highest T20 score was 44∗, but he has now accumulated 267 runs in the format at a strike rate exceeding 165. It is also worth noting his earlier success in the First-Class arena, where he scored a debut century (101 off 210 balls) against Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. He currently has a total of 458 runs from nine FC games with an average of 41.63.
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