IPL 2025: Abdul Samad's twin centuries in Ranji Trophy make him hot commodity for mega auction

Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Abdul Samad has etched his name into the history books by achieving the remarkable feat of scoring centuries in both innings of a Ranji Trophy match. He achieved the remarkable milestone on Monday (October 21) in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25.

With these twin centuries in the second match of the season against Odisha, Abdul Samad became the first-ever player from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve this milestone in the prestigious tournament.

Abdul Samad becomes the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to score centuries in both innings of a Ranji Trophy game

Playing at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Samad unleashed his explosive batting prowess in the first inning, smashing a breathtaking 127 runs off just 117 balls.

The right-handed batter’s innings were a spectacle, featuring six boundaries and an astounding nine sixes, showcasing the hard-hitting style that has made him a player to watch.

However, Jammu and Kashmir fell short of taking a first-inning lead, as they finished at 270 runs against Odisha's 272, but Samad’s explosive batting won the hearts.

Meanwhile, Abdul Samad was equally dangerous in the second inning, as he once again proved his mettle by crafting yet another century in only 105 balls, hitting five fours and six sixes. His remarkable achievement has not only helped him to script history but also showcased his exceptional talent.

Abdul Samad's twin centuries light up Barabati Stadium

Samad's classic performance ended with the unbeaten knock of 108 runs off 108 balls as he propelled Jammu and Kashmir to set a formidable target of 269 runs for Odisha, with just over two sessions remaining on Day 4 in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game in Cuttack.

The young all-rounder’s impressive tally of 15 sixes across both innings is a record surpassed only twice before by Indian cricketers in first-class cricket. This stellar display comes at a crucial time for Samad, who has amassed over 1,400 runs in just 25 First-Class matches, including six centuries.

His hard-hitting abilities caught the eye of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who signed him in 2020. Over the course of five seasons, the Jammu and Kashmir talent has made 50 appearances for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), racking up over 550 runs with an impressive tally of 36 sixes.

Abdul Samad’s twin centuries set the stage for him for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction

As the deadline for IPL 2025 retentions approaches fast, Samad's twin centuries could not have come at a better time. However, it is being said that the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will release Samad from the squad ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, but these runs in the Ranji Trophy could grab the attention of the other buyers in the upcoming auction.

According to reports, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be retaining South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klassen, Australian pacer Pat Cummins, batter Travis Head, India’s Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

However, Samad’s explosive performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 may push him as a sought-after asset at the upcoming mega auction to ensure he finds a buyer next month.