Finn Allen's Blazing Knock in MLC Shatters Chris Gayle's Record after IPL 2025 Snub

Finn Allen did not find favor with any team in the IPL 2025 auction but he made a strong statement in his very next outing on the cricket pitch. Only six months after remaining unsold in the auction at a minimum price of Rs 2 crore the dynamic New Zealand opener shocked all by shattering world records in the first game of the Major League Cricket 2025 season. Allen who plays for the San Francisco Unicorns in the American franchise-based Twenty20 league gave a heart-stopping performance which showed why he remains one of the most feared hitters in the shortest form of the game.

Playing against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum Finn Allen thrashed his way to 151 runs from 51 balls. It was a torrential innings where bowlers struggled and boundaries poured on the ground. His strike rate went past 296 which is nearly unheard of in professional T20 cricket. The pick of his innings was the manner in which he destroyed the opposition bowling attack with 19 sixes and 5 fours. Each shot that he played indicated the extent to which he was confident and fearless even after being snubbed by all IPL franchises.

What made this knock special was the record books it broke. Allen became the quickest player in T20 cricket's history to hit 150 runs as he achieved the feat in just 49 balls. This remarkable feat placed him above some of the biggest stars in T20 cricket. His century arrived in a mere 34 deliveries that proved to be the quickest by any New Zealand player in T20s and also the fastest ever century in Major League Cricket history. Not only did these milestones earn Allen individual prestige, but they also left his team in a very powerful position.

Another record shattered by Allen on a mammoth scale was the sixes hit in a single men's T20 innings. Prior to this match the record was shared by West Indies great Chris Gayle and Estonia's Sahil Chauhan who had both struck 18 sixes in a T20 game. But Allen beat them both by smashing 19 sixes in his whirlwind innings. This outing has put him at the top of the leaderboard for the most sixes in a men's T20 innings in cricket history. Shattering Chris Gayle's record is no easy task and achieving it so comprehensively has made Finn Allen the center of conversation in the world of cricket once again.

Post the match Finn Allen was humble but evidently elated at what he had done. Talking about his innings he stated it was thrilling to have scored the fastest hundred in MLC history and he was happy to have started well. He added that he was able to get into the boundaries consistently and they achieved a few partnerships which enabled them to score a good total. Allen has also mentioned that the boundaries were quite good which enabled him to play his shots more comfortably.

This innings-breaking performance arrives at a very fascinating time in Allen's career. Being left out of the auction for the IPL 2025 during November last year had kept everyone wondering regarding the selection strategies of the franchises. While the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer garnered huge bids with Pant emerging as the costliest player in the history of IPL at Rs 27 crore and Iyer getting purchased for Rs 26.75 crore by Punjab Kings Allen remained valueless, failing to get a single bid. Kolkata Knight Riders retained Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 23.75 crore too making it amply clear that the auction had been heavily Indian-centric with big domestic and international profiles.

Finn Allen's recent form indicates that not selecting him could have been a huge miss for the franchises of the IPL. He has proved his class of dominating bowlers and turning the tide of a game in a matter of a few overs unmatched. A batsman who has scored 19 sixes in an inning and reached a hundred in just 34 balls definitely deserves more chances at the top of the T20 format. With this performance, he has certainly put himself in the limelight again and it will not come as a surprise if teams begin to show interest in him again in future auctions or leagues.

Major League Cricket that is gaining momentum in the United States now has a new shining star in the form of Finn Allen. His incredible hitting performance in the opening tournament has not only raised his own personal brand but also brought more international focus to the league. With performances such as this, the league could be made into a prominent platform for talents like Allen to play and revive their careers after being derailed.

This knock will be fondly remembered for a very long time not only because of the runs it scored but also because of the message it conveyed. It reminded the cricket world that form and ability cannot be overlooked for long. Even if a player goes unsold or unnoticed they can still bounce back and dominate the game. Finn Allen's innings is the best example of converting rejection into motivation and proving detractors wrong through action, not words.

His path from remaining unsold at the IPL 2025 auction to scripting history in the first game of Major League Cricket is indeed inspiring. Finn Allen has again proved why he is one of the most explosive and thrilling T20 batters. The cricket world will definitely continue to monitor him with interest after this breathtaking performance.