Abhimanyu Mithun, who became the first Indian to get 5 wickets in 6 balls, including a hat-trick this week, has completed the famed trinity – of scalping a hat trick in all three formats of the game. The Karnataka bowler now has plucked three wickets in three balls in Ranji Trophy (India’s First-Class tournament), Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic 50-over competition) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the nation’s T20 competition.
Mithun, who has also played for the senior team, completed the feat when he bowled an outstanding over in the semis of the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament against Haryana. His last over’s figures read – W, W, W, Wide, 1, W – a dream scorecard for any bowler.
However, despite his efforts, the rivals had managed to score 194 in their quota of overs, but the stiff target was chased down in no time, as Devdutt Padikkal’s fiery knock at the top helped his side to get over the line in just 15 overs, and into the finals.
Mithun had become the first bowler to get a hat trick in the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this year against Tamil Nadu at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after he dismissed Shahrukh Khan, M Mohammed and Murugan Ashwin off consecutive deliveries. He had finished with figures of 5 for 34 in the game, which was also his first-ever five-wicket haul in List A cricket.
Mithun’s first hat trick, however, dates back to 2008, when the seamer dismissed three batters off three balls in a Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh. Playing at the Bhamashah Stadium in Meerut, Mithun went on to get Piyush Chawla, Amir Khan and R P Singh consequently to complete the feat. He became the 60th bowler in Ranji Trophy to get a hat trick.
Earlier this week, Mithun, who has played 4 Tests and 5 ODIs for Team India, was in the news after he was summoned by the sleuths in relation to the Karnataka Premier League match-fixing scandal. He is yet to be questioned.
