Unsung Hero Dhruv Shorey Shines with Unrivaled Century in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Vidarbha’s Dhruv Shorey is an exceptional domestic cricket player, quietly excelling despite the sport not always reciprocating his dedication. With 5,455 First-Class runs at an average of 48.70 across 77 matches and 2,957 List-A runs averaging 44.80 over 74 games, Shorey often doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves among top domestic performers.

In a notable achievement, Shorey registered his latest century against Hyderabad in the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy, becoming only the second player worldwide, after Tamil Nadu’s N. Jagadeesan, to score five consecutive List-A hundreds. Last season, he achieved three successive hundreds during the knockout stage, leading Vidarbha to a runner-up finish. This year, he has already hit three centuries in as many games.

Speaking with Sportstar, Shorey expressed satisfaction with his recent form: “This format has favored me since last year. I didn’t perform well in the league stage previously, but I started strongly this season and did well in the Ranji Trophy too.”

His unbeaten knock against Hyderabad showcased his masterful pacing in a 50-over inning. Arriving after a 148-run opening stand in the 25th over, Shorey maintained the momentum by carefully rotating the strike. He accelerated after the 40th over, smashing a 73-ball century and helping Vidarbha score 124 runs in the final ten overs.

According to Shorey, pacing depends greatly on match circumstances, considering the pitch and two new balls: “You can’t just start hitting. If chasing a large target, it makes sense to attack from ball one.”

Since joining Vidarbha in 2023, Shorey has been a vital component in all formats, contributing to their 2024-25 Ranji Trophy victory and the 2025 Irani Trophy success. Despite the departure of Karun Nair back to Karnataka, Shorey believes Vidarbha has the talent to fill the void and maintain their batting strength.

Despite accumulating over 1,500 First-Class runs in the last three seasons, Shorey hasn’t been selected for the Duleep Trophy due to being a guest player, nor considered for India A opportunities due to his age. Former India cricketer Mandeep Singh highlighted this in a social media post, questioning why players of Shorey’s caliber aren’t given chances similar to those granted to older players in Australia.

Published on Dec 27, 2025.