Odisha opener Swastik Samal's career's maiden List A century turned out to be a double century. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Group D clash against Saurashtra at KSCA Cricket Ground, Alur, Samal scored 212 runs. He became the eighth batter in Vijay Hazare Trophy history to score a double century.
Samal's 212 is the joint fourth-highest score by a batter in Vijay Hazare Trophy. He shares the spot with Kerala's Sanju Samson who scored an unbeaten 212 from 129 balls against Goa in October 2019.
Batters to score double century in Vijay Hazare Trophy -
Tamil Nadu's Narayan Jagadeesan - 277 against Arunachal Pradesh (2022)
Mumbai's Prithvi Shaw - 227 not out against Puducherry (2021)
Maharashtra's Ruturaj Gaikwad - 220 not out against Uttar Pradesh (2022)
Kerala's Sanju Samson - 212 not out against Goa (2019)
Odisha’s Swastik Samal – 212 against Saurashtra (2025)*
Mumbai's Yashasvi Jaiswal - 203 against Jharkhand (2019)
Uttarakhand's Karn Kaushal - 2022 against Sikkim (2018)
Saurashtra's Samart Vyas - 200 against Manipur (2022)
Samal, Samantray score big after early collapse
Samal played the anchor role after Saurashtra skipper Harvik Desai won the toss and opted to bowl first. Odisha lost three early wickets. Three batters departed for single-digit scores. Then skipper Biplab Samantray and Samal shared a 261-run partnership for the fourth wicket which was eventually broken in the 47th over. Samantray departed for a 91-ball 100 laced with seven fours and three sixes.
Samal reached his half-century from 53 balls. He completed his maiden List A century from 104 deliveries. He accelerated as the slog overs approached. In the last over, Samal lost his wicket to Chirag Jani. He hit 21 fours and eight sixes in his 169-ball stay at the crease. His knock helped Odisha post 345/6.
The previous highest individual score in List A cricket for Odisha belonged to Biswa Mohapatra. In 2005, Mohaptra scored 145 runs from 108 balls against Tripura.
Unsold in IPL 2026 mini-auction
Samal was one of the late 19 additions to the shortlist for the mini-auction. The Odisha Pro T20 League-winning skipper went unsold in the auction.