The surge in reputation of T20 cricket over the past decade-and-a-half is usually labelled because the menace that’s adversely affecting the methods of batters developing by means of the ranks. However fairly often, the format’s affect provides rise to willow-wielders that embody its sanguine points—immense self-belief and fearlessness. Hyderabad’s Aman Rao is one such instance.
The 21-year-old batter seized his second on the massive stage, scoring an unbeaten double hundred for his State towards Bengal within the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025.
What was most hanging concerning the younger opener’s innings was its combative nature. Taking part in simply his third senior 50-over sport, Aman needed to grind by means of the center overs towards spinners on a dry monitor which was gripping a contact. The primary half of his double ton concerned a self-proclaimed ‘tough’ interval the place he struggled to rotate strike. As soon as he touched the three-figure mark, there was a marked distinction in his modus operandi. His second hundred runs got here off simply 46 deliveries and included a calculated assault towards a Bengal tempo assault, together with Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar.
“Whereas strolling in, my plan was to attempt to play 40 overs. Rahul bhai [Rahul Singh Gahlaut] was scoring from one finish. So, I didn’t have that stress although I wasn’t scoring within the PowerPlay,” the batter informed Sportstar.
“After I was taking part in on 60-70, Tilak bhai [Tilak Varma] was telling me to go for it if it was there [to be hit] and never be in a double-mind. Regardless that I used to be taking part in a number of dots, he was telling, ‘Keep on the wicket, you’ll get it later’. Him speaking to me made it simpler for me,” he recounted.
Compelling swansong
Aman had made his Hyderabad debut within the crew’s final match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024/25 marketing campaign, a lifeless rubber towards Mizoram. An unbeaten 67 off 42 balls helped his aspect romp residence by ten wickets. Regardless of his home Beneath-23 marketing campaign not going properly with the bat, he was picked to open the next season as properly. The 21-year-old had a breakout match on the prime of the order, aggregating 234 runs in 10 matches at a powerful strike charge of 163.63, serving to Hyderabad qualify for the Tremendous League stage.
Aman’s second beneath the highlight got here throughout the sport towards defending champion Mumbai. Chasing a average 131-run goal, Aman laid into Shardul Thakur within the first over of the chase, accumulating 24 runs. Three wristy flicks by means of the onside, together with two that cleared the fence over deep-midwicket, and a agency backfoot punch by means of cowl proved that the younger opener has been blessed with the reward of timing. His 29-ball 52 helped the aspect chase the goal down inside the twelfth over.
“My method was good all through the match. I confirmed good intent. Perhaps I may have transformed the begins into 30s after which into 60s. The turning level was the Mumbai sport. That day I wasn’t considering an excessive amount of. If you consider all of the Indian gamers Mumbai had, you gained’t be within the sport. I used to be simply wanting on the ball,” he mentioned.
The sport towards Mumbai certainly turned out to be a ‘turning level’. 4 days later, he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals within the IPL 2026 public sale at his base value of INR 30 lakh. “I received messages from everybody within the crew. I spoke to Vikram Rathour sir. Kumar Sangakkara is a legend in worldwide cricket. There might be quite a bit to study from him, and I’m excited for that,” the Hyderabad batter mentioned.
Making the adjustment
Since he first picked up a cricket bat as a six-year-old, following the lead of his elder brother Akash, who had enrolled himself in a cricket academy, Aman has been synonymous with taking part in an attacking model of cricket. “It’s simply very pure to me. Everybody thinks I’m too aggressive, however in my thoughts, that is how I play. I don’t strive something. My coach additionally informed me to proceed the best way I play, however he requested me to keep away from rash photographs,” Aman mentioned.
He had a dialog together with his childhood coach from Hyderabad, Sharadh Mudiraj, after failing to transform begins in his first two video games of the continued Vijay Hazare Trophy. “He was telling me to not depart it if I received a begin. This isn’t T20, it’s a larger format. Boundaries usually are not the one choice. So, I used to be making an attempt to take much more singles,” the batter mentioned.
Additionally learn | The uncommon outlier: Shubham Dubey’s lengthy highway from tennis-ball cricket to IPL stardom
The opener says he has realised that the 50-over format must be approached like a red-ball sport, slightly than an extension of the T20 format. “I made the error of taking part in an pointless shot, which is sort of a T20 shot, in my first sport after I was nearing 40. Within the 20-over sport, even when the ball will not be there, it’s important to convert it one way or the other. You may’t respect each good ball. 50-over permits you much more time,” he defined.
Aman’s subsequent ambition is to turn into an all-format batter. Regardless of his fondness in the direction of the shorter codecs, he says he needs to show he can play towards the crimson ball too. “There are locations I can enhance on in red-ball cricket. I’ve to stability between being aggressive and taking my time. There might be durations the place there might be no runs when there may be motion or reverse swing. I shouldn’t take that stress,” the opener mentioned.
The all-format dream may take a while to return to fruition, however Tuesday’s knock on the Niranjan Shah Stadium has already launched Aman deep into the home limelight. After every of his two a whole lot scored, he unfastened his helmet and displayed a signature celebration—interlocking his two arms collectively in entrance of his face, resembling a masks, signifying ‘nobody knew him earlier than’. The 21-year-old’s historic feat served one more reminder of what defines the next-gen—audacity, conviction, and, to prime it off, some flamboyance.
Printed on Jan 07, 2026