Swastik Chikara's 82 fires Meerut Mavericks to 36-run win in UPT20
Synopsis
Swastik Chikara's 45-ball 82 wasn't just a match-winning knock — it pushed him into the record books as only the second player to hit 100 sixes in UP T20 history. The RCB-trained opener credits Virat Kohli's practice ethic for his transformation into the league's most feared batter.
Key Takeaways
Swastik Chikara scored a 45-ball 82 with 9 fours and 4 sixes to guide Meerut Mavericks to 206/6 .
Meerut Mavericks beat Gaur Gorakhpur Lions by 36 runs in the UP T20 League on 17 August .
Chikara became only the second player in tournament history to hit 100 sixes .
In the 2024 UP T20 season, he finished as the leading run-getter with 499 runs at a strike rate of 185.50 .
Chikara is an IPL-contracted player with RCB and was part of their 2025 IPL title-winning squad.
Opener Swastik Chikara blazed his way to a 45-ball 82 — studded with nine boundaries and four sixes — to power the Meerut Mavericks to a commanding 36-run victory over the Gaur Gorakhpur Lions in the UP T20 League on 17 August at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The innings helped the Mavericks post a season-high total of 206/6, an imposing target the Lions could not chase down.
Chikara's Kohli Connection
After the match, Chikara credited his time in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) setup — and specifically his close observation of Virat Kohli — for shaping his elite preparation habits. 'I have learnt from Virat Kohli to focus on your practice and give your 100 percent. I have been trying to follow the exact same approach,' he said.
Chikara earned his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) contract on the back of standout performances in earlier UP T20 editions. He was part of the RCB squad that lifted the IPL title in 2025 and played a pivotal role in guiding the franchise to the finals across all three previous editions, including the title-winning campaign in 2024.
Record-Breaking Season Form
During the 2024 UP T20 season, Chikara was the tournament's standout batter, finishing as the leading run-getter with 499 runs at an average of 49.90 and a strike rate of 185.50, featuring three fifties and one century. His latest innings added another milestone: he became only the second player in tournament history to register 100 sixes.
How the Innings Unfolded
Reflecting on his knock and the team's approach, Chikara said: 'I batted well, got a good stand, and helped my team, so I feel very good. It was a very good track, so we knew we could get a good total. We took on the Powerplay. Personally, I like to stand still and hit sixes.'
The Mavericks' aggressive Powerplay strategy, anchored by Chikara's boundary-hitting, set the tone for a total that ultimately proved well beyond the Lions' reach.
Season Goals and What's Next
Chikara made no secret of his ambitions for the rest of the season. 'Hopefully, with the blessings of my elders, I will have a good season this time around. My ultimate goal for the season is to have the best strike rate, make the most runs, and hit the most sixes,' he said. With a century, multiple fifties, and now a landmark sixes record already to his name in the tournament, Chikara is firmly establishing himself as the UP T20 League's most dangerous opener.
Point of View
But his Powerplay aggression and the deliberate 'stand still and hit sixes' method suggest a technically grounded batter, not just a slogger. The UP T20 League is producing players who arrive at the IPL ready, not raw, and Chikara is its clearest proof of concept so far.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Swastik Chikara score in the UPT20 match against Gaur Gorakhpur Lions?
Swastik Chikara scored 82 runs off 45 balls, hitting nine boundaries and four sixes, to help Meerut Mavericks post 206/6 and win by 36 runs on 17 August.
What record did Swastik Chikara set in the UP T20 League?
Chikara became only the second player in UP T20 League history to hit 100 sixes in the tournament, achieving the milestone during his 82-run knock against the Gaur Gorakhpur Lions.
What is Swastik Chikara's connection to Virat Kohli and RCB?
Chikara earned an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after his UP T20 performances and was part of the RCB squad that won the IPL title in 2025. He has credited sharing a dressing room with Virat Kohli for instilling his current practice-first mindset.
How did Swastik Chikara perform in the 2024 UP T20 season?
In the 2024 UP T20 season, Chikara was the tournament's leading run-scorer with 499 runs at an average of 49.90 and a strike rate of 185.50, including three fifties and one century.
What are Swastik Chikara's goals for the current UP T20 season?
Chikara has stated his aim is to finish the season with the best strike rate, the most runs, and the most sixes in the tournament — targets consistent with his record-breaking 2024 campaign.
