Nepal Under-16's Raunak Shrivastav produced a once-in-a-lifetime innings, smashing a stunning 168 runs off 132 balls, to lead Nepal to a mammoth 358/5 against Bhutan U16 in the ACC Men's U16 East Zone Cup 2025.
Opting to bat first, Nepal stumbled early at 7/1 and 13/2, with both openers dismissed cheaply. But Raunak walked in with calm determination and completely changed the momentum. Partnering first with Shiwansh Bajgai, the pair rebuilt the innings through a crucial 91-run stand. Shiwansh scored a fluent 54 (67), but the show belonged entirely to Raunak.
He reached his half-century in 55 balls, his century in 101 balls, and then unleashed a brutal assault in the final phase of his innings. Raunak’s 168 featured 16 boundaries and 5 towering sixes, combining textbook drives with aggressive pulls. His strike rate of 127.27 was remarkable, given the early collapse.
The highlight of Nepal's innings was the unbeaten 170-run partnership between Raunak and Joy Thapa (61 off 66), which transformed a shaky start into a commanding total. Joy anchored the other end brilliantly, ensuring Nepal never lost momentum once the foundation was set.
Nepal's final score of 358/5 in 50 overs is one of the highest in recent U16 ACC tournaments, underlining their dominance at this level.
Why Rauna's innings stands out:
- Second consecutive big score (following his 88 in the previous game), showing consistency and maturity.
- Masterful pacing: steady rebuild followed by explosive acceleration.
- Anchored the innings despite early wickets, showing composure uncommon at U16 level.
- His 168 is likely a Nepal U16 record for the highest individual score in official youth tournaments.
This innings cements Raunak Shrivastav as one of Nepal’s brightest young prospects. His performance will give the national selectors plenty to think about as Nepal builds a pipeline of future stars.
