IPL 2026 setback to record-breaking success: Odisha pacer Rajesh Mohanty scripts record in Vijay Hazare Trophy – All about his remarkable rise

In a significant landmark for Odisha cricket, 25-year-old fast bowler Rajesh Mohanty etched his name in the book of records by becoming the state's first-ever player to claim a hat-trick in List A cricket. The pacer achieved the feat on Friday during the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Services held at Alur Cricket Stadium III in Bengaluru.Rajesh Mohanty IPL Team 2026: Pacer went unsold! This achievement for Rajesh Mohanty comes after a recent setback in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Mohanty was part of the recently held IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. Entering with a base price of Rs 30 lakh, the pacer from Odisha failed to find a buyer during the event.Rajesh Mohanty's impressive bowling recordRajesh Mohanty has taken 41 wickets in 38 List A matches so far, while he has claimed 124 wickets in 34 First-Class matches. In T20 cricket, he has taken 27 wickets in 28 matches.Rajesh Mohanty’s historic moment in Vijay Hazare Trophy! The historic moment unfolded in the seventh over of the match after Odisha captain Biplab Samantray won the toss and elected to field. Mohanty dismantled the Services top order with three clinical deliveries: Sagar Dahiya - Clean bowled, Amit Shukla - Trapped LBW, Ravi Chauhan - Trapped LBW for a golden duck. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Odisha Cricket Association (@cricketodisha)Dominant bowling by Rajesh Mohanty and others Mohanty’s devastating opening spell reduced Services to a precarious 21/3. He finished the innings with stellar figures of 4/25 in 9 overs, having also claimed the wicket of P Raj Bahadur later in the game.His efforts, combined with an astonishing performance from Sambit S Baral (4/21) and Badal Biswal (2/20), bundled out the Services for a paltry 83 in just 21.5 overs. The score also stands as one of the lowest totals in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the Services team.Odisha won a very important toss and Rajesh Mohanty exploited the condition well to put the opposition batters into trouble. They could never make a comeback after the initial loss.Vijay Hazare Trophy - Odisha Vs Services: OCA congratulates Rajesh MohantyThe Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) took to its official X handle to congratulate Mohanty and Baral for their performance in the match against the Services.“𝐕𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 (BCCI Domestic Season 2025-26) 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐- 𝐎𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 Odisha edged past Services in a thrilling low-scoring nail-biter 🏏🔥. Sambit S Baral and Rajesh Mohanty picked up four wickets each, with Rajesh Mohanty being named Player of the Match 💙,” the OCA wrote in the post.“🚨 𝐇𝐀𝐓-𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 🚨🔥 Rajesh Mohanty becomes the first Odisha bowler to take a List A hat-trick 💙Watch his sensational four-wicket haul against Services in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 💙💥,” the OCA wrote in another post shared with a video.Vijay Hazare Trophy Odisha Vs Services: The chase and resultDespite the small target of 84, the chase for Odisha was far from smooth. The team lost early wickets and found themselves under pressure from Services bowler Poonam Poonia, who grabbed 4/27.However, opening batter Sandeep Pattnaik played a patient and mature knock, remaining unbeaten on 32 off 69 balls to anchor the innings. Govinda Poddar (11) and Rajesh Mohanty (12) stitched small and effective partnerships with Sandeep to ensure Odisha reached the target in 24.3 overs with four wickets to spare.Poonam Poonia (4/27) was the highest wicket taker for Services.Who is Rajesh Mohanty?Born on May 20, 2000 in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, Rajesh Mohanty is a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He has played for India Green, India Under-19, Odisha, Odisha-B, and Puri Titans teams so far.He made his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2018.