Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, and for Odisha’s pacer Rajesh Mohanty, the Vijay Hazare Trophy provided the perfect stage to prove his worth. Just days after facing disappointment, Rajesh Mohanty etched his name in history by becoming the first-ever bowler from Odisha to take a hat-trick in List-A cricket.
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The historic moment came during Odisha’s match against Services at the KSCA ground in Alur. Services had made a steady start, with their openers holding firm against the new ball. The game was poised evenly until the seventh over, when Mohanty decided to take matters into his own hands.
On the very first ball of the over, he broke the deadlock by dismissing Sagar Dahiya. The very next delivery saw Amit Shukla depart for a duck, suddenly charging the atmosphere. With history on the line, Mohanty steamed in for the hat-trick ball and trapped Ravi Chauhan right in front of the stumps. The umpire raised his finger, and Mohanty had his hat-trick, a feat even Odisha legends like Debashish Mohanty and Basant Mohanty had never achieved in this tournament.
This performance was especially sweet for the 24-year-old speedster. Mohanty was one of the many hopefuls who registered for the recent IPL auction but went unsold. Despite a solid domestic record, boasting 194+ wickets in 100 matches across formats, he was overlooked by the franchises.
While the IPL snub may have stung, his on-field response was nothing short of spectacular. By tearing through the Services lineup, Rajesh Mohanty didn't just win a game for his state; he reminded everyone that talent always finds a way to shine.
