Hyderabad opener Aman Rao was in the limelight during the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. After having impressed during the season and subsequently earned an IPL 2026 bid at the auctions last month, the 21-year-old made heads turn on Tuesday in Rajkot, cracking an unbeaten double century in only his third appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Taking on an experienced Bengal pace attack led by India internationals Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, an unfazed Rao led the foundation of the Hyderabad innings with a flawless knock. Having returned with scores of only 39 and 13 in his previous two outings in the tournament, the Wisconsin-born Rao reached his maiden List A half-century in 65 balls and progressively tuned his attack against a quality Bengal bowling line-up.
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Rao reached his maiden List A century in 108 balls before doubling up his tally within the next 46 deliveries. He finished with 12 fours and 13 sixes and took a particular liking to the vaunted pace trio. Rao clubbed 120 runs off Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh, smashing eight sixes against them. It seemed as if Rao could narrowly miss out on the landmark in the final over bowled by Akash Deep. However, the youngster held his nerve while batting on 194* and smoked the final delivery in the blockhole over long-on for six and finished with exactly 200 runs in 154 deliveries.
Rao is only the 15th Indian man to record a double century in the List A format. It is also the second-highest score of the ongoing VHT edition, following Odisha opener Swastik Samal’s 212, another batter who had also converted his maiden fifty-plus score in the format into a whopping double century.
6⃣,4⃣,4⃣,6⃣,4⃣
🎥 A fiery start to Hyderabad’s run chase in the very first over, courtesy of Aman Rao. 👏
Hyderabad win the contest against Mumbai by nine wickets in Pune.
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/RxwfJDx3Ud#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/jsUrECFWGF
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 12, 2025
Rao had garnered attention during the SMAT 2025-26 season with his quickfire half-century against Mumbai, during which he smashed India all-rounder Shardul Thakur for 24 runs in the opening over of a 132-run chase. What now seems like a steal deal, the 21-year-old Rao was roped in by the Rajasthan Royals at the IPL 2026 Auction in Abu Dhabi last month at his base price of Rs 30 lakh.