Star middle-order India batter Shreyas Iyer, who was not retained by the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders despite leading the team to the IPL 2024 title win, smashed an unbeaten 130 runs from just 57 balls for Mumbai on Saturday (November 23) in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy match, which is taking place at Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad.

Shreyas Iyer shines with the bat

The 29-year-old right-handed batter also smashed 11 fours and 10 sixes as well. On the back of his stunning show with the bat, Mumbai posted a total of 250 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs as well.

#50foriyer @Rajiv1841 @105of70Mumbai @Shreyasian96 @ShreyasIyer96FC pic.twitter.com/tb55ahklh2

— Groom VJ (@Rishabpant7729) November 23, 2024

#100@105of70Mumbai @Shreyasian96 @ShreyasIyer15 @Rajiv1841 @ShreyasIyer96FC pic.twitter.com/IbGGTKucUJ

— Groom VJ (@Rishabpant7729) November 23, 2024

130* @Rajiv1841 @Shreyasian96 @105of70Mumbai @ShreyasIyer96FC pic.twitter.com/K2SmbIdBAr

— Groom VJ (@Rishabpant7729) November 23, 2024

However, Iyer’s knock came a day ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, which will take place in Jeddah. Iyer, who has a base price of Rs 2 crore, is likely to get a big deal in the mega auction as well. However, Iyer is a very talented middle-order batter who is capable of scoring runs quickly and showed his skill as a captain in the franchise cricket league as well.

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025 to start on March 14; Dates revealed for next three seasons

Shreyas Iyer likely to get big deal in IPL 2025 auction

Apart from playing for KKR in the IPL 2022 and 2024, he has played for Delhi Capitals in the IPL as well. He joined the franchise in 2015 and played as their captain from mid-season 2018 to 2020 as well. Under his leadership, they managed to qualify for the IPL final in the 2020 season but could not win as they lost to Mumbai Indians.

However, in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Delhi Capitals is likely to go big for Iyer, and the possibility of teams like Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru too spending big money for him as well. Notably, Iyer has worked previously with Ricky Ponting, who is now the head coach of the Punjab Kings, and they will enter the mega auction with a whopping purse of Rs 110.50 crore.

Meanwhile, RCB is also in search of a new captain after parting ways with Faf du Plessis, who led the team from 2022 to 2024, and in Iyer, they can get a very good captain as well. Apart from Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were also featured for Mumbai on Saturday, but they failed to score big runs as well.

Tilak Varma etched his name in cricketing history during Hyderabad's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) opener against Meghalaya on Saturday. The 22-year-old captain became the first batter to score three consecutive T20 centuries, culminating in a jaw-dropping 151 off just 67 balls. This incredible feat also set the record for the highest individual T20 score by an Indian batter, breaking Shreyas Iyer's previous best of 147.

Three consecutive centuries and a record-breaking knock

Varma’s knock, laced with 14 fours and 10 sixes, propelled Hyderabad to a mammoth total of 248/4 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Coming in at No. 3, he reached his half-century in just 28 balls and completed his century in a mere 51. His innings not only decimated the Meghalaya bowling attack but also solidified his reputation as one of the most consistent and explosive batters in T20 cricket.

A streak of consistency and international recognition

This milestone follows Tilak’s back-to-back T20I centuries for India against South Africa earlier this month in Centurion and Johannesburg. His remarkable form has seen him score three centuries in just 10 days, a feat matched by few in the history of the game. Alongside his stellar performances, Tilak has climbed to third place in the ICC T20I Men's Batting Rankings, becoming the highest-rated Indian batter in T20Is.

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With this knock, Tilak Varma not only enters the elite list of Indian batters with multiple T20 hundreds but also demonstrates his potential to shine on both domestic and international stages. As Hyderabad seeks a strong start to their SMAT campaign, Tilak’s record-breaking performance ensures that he remains one of cricket’s brightest young stars.