Gujarat schoolboy Drona Desai scores 498 in Under-19 tournament

AHMEDABAD: Drona Desai didn't know he was batting on 498 when he got out against JL English School, Maninagar in the Diwan Ballubhai Cup (U-19) at Shivaay Cricketing Hub in Karai, Gandhinagar and later rued falling two short of 500.
In scoring 498, the 18-year-old created history on Tuesday, becoming the highest scorer in inter-school cricket in Gujarat and the joint third-highest in India with Armaan Jaffer, behind only Pranav Dhanawade and Prithvi Shaw. He spent 372 minutes in the middle, hit 86 boundaries and seven sixes off 320 balls before being dismissed caught behind by Himanshu Tadvi off Karan Mejiyatr's bowling.
With Het Desai's 142 off 98 balls (10x4, 9x6) and captain Viraj Talati's 104* off 93 balls (19x4, 1x6), the trio helped St Xavier's Loyola Hall amass 844/7 after skittling out JL for 40 in the first innings. JL were bowled out for 92 in their second innings and St Xavier's cruised to an innings and 712-run win.
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Speaking to TOI, Drona said, "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." Patel is the same coach under whom former India cricketer Parthiv Patel and Gujarat Ranji player Priyank Panchal made headway at the state and senior levels.
"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," he said.
His coach at St. Xavier's, Mitul Patel, said, "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."