Schoolboy from Gujarat becomes joint third-highest scorer in India after racking up 498 in U-19 tournament

Drona Desai, an 18-year-old student of St Xavier's Loyola Hall, recently entered an elusive list of registering the highest score to his name in inter-school cricket in Gujarat after scoring 498 out of his team's 844 runs at
Shivaay Cricketing Hub in Karai, Gandhinagar. 

Desai was the star of the game (498 off 320, 86 fours, seven sixes) as his side wrapped up JL English School for 40 and 92 either side of their ridiculous time with the bat to register a mammoth win by an innings and 712 runs in the e Diwan Ballubhai Cup (U-19 age-group).

The 498 he scored is the joint-third highest across India with the highest being Pranav Dhanawade's unbeaten 1,009* which was brought up in the Bhandari Cup inter-school cricket tournament in 2016, followed by India cricketer Prithvi Shaw, whose 546 came in the Harris Shield in 2013.

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I am disappointed that I missed 500 by two runs: Desai

Desai, who was not informed by any of his teammates on him batting at 498, rued on missing out on the 500-run feat. He credited his coach with whom he had been training since a very young age for inculcating the habit of not playing streaky shots until he turned 14. 

"I am disappointed that I missed 500 by two runs. Overall, I'm very happy. I dedicate this knock to Jay Prakash Patel sir, under whom I've been training since I was seven. JP sir taught me to put a price on my wicket. In my innings, I hit 86 fours and only seven sixes. Most of the fours were ground shots. He told me to hit only ground shots till I was 14 years old. I started practising aerial shots only after that," stated Desai, as quoted by The Indian Express.

Mitul Patel, his coach at St. Xavier's, expounded on the likeable aspects of his batting.

"The best thing about his batting is his maturity. He plays every ball on merit. He has good technique. He can play on the front or back foot with aplomb and he plays each ball as late as possible," added Patel.

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It remains to be seen whether Desai can capitalize on the chaotic traction and quite possibly, make his way into the state team and senior teams, much like the manner former India wicketkeeper-batter, Parthiv Patel, and opening batter of Gujarat, Priyank Panchal, leveraged their stint while under the tutelage of Patel.