Who is Drona Desai? Meet Gujarat schoolboy who scores sensational 498-run knock

It says that in India, cricket starts from schools, and from the past, Sachin Tendulkar to Prithvi Shaw have always proven this statement. Now, one more name has been added: Drona Desai, a Gujarat schoolboy who produced magic with the bat in a school cricket match, scored 498 runs in just 320 balls, which included six sixes and an unbelievable 86 fours. He stamped this record in the Diwan Ballubhai Cup Under-19 multi-day tournament while playing for St. Xavier’s (Loyola) at the Shivay Cricket Ground in Gandhinagar . He achieved this feat against JL English School, ensuring his team’s dominant victory by an innings and 712 runs.

Hailing from Gujarat, he began cricket at the age of seven, Drona has consistently performed amazingly at the junior level and has risen through the ranks, having already played for Gujarat Under-14 and now doing well at the Under-19 level. It looks clear that selectors will look to get him into the Under-19 Gujarat state team.

Heavily influenced by the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, Drona loves Sachin’s straight drives. He also credits his father, who recognized his potential and ensured that he received outstanding coaching. Desai received coaching from Jaya Prakash R. Patel, who himself was a renowned Gujarat cricketer and played in the Ranji Trophy for 10 years, from 1966 to 1976.

“My father believed I had the potential to become a good cricketer. He introduced me to JP Sir (Jayprakash Patel), and since then, cricket has been my life. From grades 8 to 12, I attended school only for exams, focusing entirely on cricket,” Desai told The Indian Express.

From Prithvi Shaw to Desai: Legacy of young school cricketers

Player	Score	School
Pranav Dhanawade	1009*	K. C. Gandhi High School
Prithvi Shaw	546	Rizvi Springfield High School
Dr. Havewalla	515	B.B & C.I Railways
Chamanlal	506*	Mohindra College
Arman Jaffer	498	Rizvi Springfield School
Drona Desai	498	St. Xavier’s (Loyola)