Who is Danish Malewar? Vidarbha's batter who smashed double century on Duleep Trophy debut

The 2025-26 domestic season began with the Duleep Trophy, where Vidarbha’s young batting sensation Danish Malewar stunned everyone with his batting prowess. The 21-year-old struck a commanding 203 for Central Zone against North East Zone before retiring out, showcasing his authority in red-ball cricket at such a tender age.

Malewar has been on a rapid rise since making his first-class debut in late 2024. He piled up a staggering 783 runs in his debut Ranji season, including a crucial 153 in the final against Kerala that secured Vidarbha their third Ranji Trophy title. He was the third highest run-getter for Vidarbha that season, after Yash Rathod and Karun Nair. Now, he has also become the first-ever centurion from Vidarbha in Duleep Trophy history. 

His breakthrough performances came in the 2024 Ranji Trophy knockout stages. Malewar scored a fighting 79 against Mumbai in the semifinal before starring in the summit clash against Kerala. He finished the season with an average of 52.20, finishing as the fifth-highest run-scorer of the season.

Batting at No. 3, the Nagpur-born is more similar to Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara for his calm temperament and ability to grind down bowlers. In just 10 first-class matches, he has already garnered fifty-plus scores five times, converted multiple scores into centuries, and boasts an impressive average of 65.40. However, the road hasn't been easy for the youngster, as he comes from a lower-middle-class family.

“My father always wanted me to be a cricketer and I got into an academy when I was seven. He faced a lot of difficulties but ensured that my cricketing needs were taken care of. There were people who used to give me bats, pads and gloves when I made runs during my junior days. Money only started coming in post my under- 19 days,” Malewar had told Indian Express.

Malewar came in early and anchored the innings with remarkable maturity. He first stitched together a 144-run stand with Aryan Juyal before the wicketkeeper-batter was retired hurt on 60. He then built a massive 199-run partnership with skipper Rajat Patidar, who hammered 125 off just 96 balls.

Malewar’s superb double century highlighted his ability to play long innings but also reinforced his growing stature in India’s domestic circuit. As stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have now retired from Tests, the BCCI selectors will be keeping a close eye on him for the crucial No. 3 batting position in red-ball internationals. With consistent performances and a strong 2025-26 season, a call-up to the Indian Test setup may not be too far.