Sahil Parakh (Delhi Capitals): The Nashik Teenager Who Smashed 109 Off 75 Balls Against Australia U19

Some players earn their IPL contracts through years of relentless domestic grinding. Others announce themselves in the age-group circuit with performances so explosive that franchises simply cannot ignore them. Sahil Parakh belongs to the latter category.

In September 2024, representing India Under-19 against Australia Under-19, Parakh walked out to open the batting and proceeded to hit an unbeaten 109 off just 75 balls — a match-winning century that helped India to a comprehensive victory. Delhi Capitals noticed. At the IPL 2026 auction, they picked him up for ₹30 lakh: the base price, no bidding war required, just a smart franchise quietly adding a player they believe has significant upside.

Who Is Sahil Parakh?

Sahil Parakh is a 19-year-old left-handed top-order batsman from Nashik, Maharashtra. He plays for the Nashik District Cricket Association and has represented Maharashtra across Under-19, Under-23, and senior levels. He has also featured in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) and helped the Eagle Nashik Titans win their domestic T20 title, scoring 202 runs at a strike rate of 177.19.

His international Under-19 debut came against Bangladesh in 2023, and the Australia century in September 2024 marked his most prominent moment on the youth international stage before his IPL selection.

How He Got Into Cricket

Sahil started playing cricket at the age of five, inspired entirely by his father. “I started playing when I was five years old. My inspiration is my father; I started because of him, and took up this game because of him,” he told ANI. His progression through Maharashtra’s cricket system was steady: Cooch Behar Trophy (Under-19 four-day cricket), U19 and U23 age-group cricket, and eventually the senior SMAT squad.

In the Cooch Behar Trophy, he scored 264 runs in four matches at an average of 44.00 with one fifty and a best of 64 — solid if unspectacular numbers that spoke to his consistency at the red-ball level.

Maharashtra Premier League and Domestic T20

Playing for Eagle Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League, Parakh delivered a standout campaign: 202 runs at a strike rate of 177.19, contributing significantly to his team’s title win. That strike rate in a state-level competition is impossible to ignore for T20 franchise selectors looking for openers who can take the game on from ball one.

Senior SMAT Debut

Parakh received his first Maharashtra senior cap in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, with scores of 6 and 18 in his first two appearances. Those are not headline numbers, but they represent his first senior domestic experience — and with the IPL now on the horizon, his development trajectory has never looked more promising.

In the Delhi Capitals Dressing Room

At DC, Sahil finds himself surrounded by experienced Indian and international cricketers: KL Rahul, David Miller, Mitchell Starc, Ben Duckett, Karun Nair, and Kevin Pietersen as chief mentor. He has spoken openly about the privilege of being in this environment. “VV important to learn from KL Rahul, and I am excited to meet MS Dhoni and understand what kind of aura he has,” he told ANI, reflecting the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a teenager suddenly thrown among the giants of the game.

Career Statistics at a Glance

What to Expect in IPL 2026

Parakh is a longer-term prospect for Delhi Capitals rather than a ready-made IPL opener on day one. His role in 2026 is likely to involve training with the squad, building relationships with senior players, and potentially getting opportunities if injury or poor form creates a gap in the top order. At ₹30 lakh, the risk for DC is minimal; the upside could be significant.

Further Reading

• Auqib Nabi: Sahil’s Exciting DC Teammate
• Vihaan Malhotra: Another U19 Star Making His IPL Debut
• IPL 2026 Debutants Complete Guide

Sources: IPL.com | Asianet Newsable | Free Press Journal