Throughout the history of international cricket, there have been several instances where a player’s gear failed them at the last moment, leading them to borrow a teammate’s bat. Remarkably, these moments of necessity have often resulted in legendary performances, including world-record centuries and historic triple hundreds. From modern-day power hitters to legends of the early 20th century, using someone else’s “willow” has occasionally proven to be a lucky charm.
This phenomenon highlights the camaraderie within the dressing room and proves that in the hands of a master, the specific owner of the tool matters less than the skill of the person wielding it. Here are five cricketers who turned borrowed bats into instruments of history:
1. Abhishek Sharma
During India’s 2024 tour of Zimbabwe, Abhishek Sharma showcased his explosive potential by scoring a 46-ball century in only his second T20I. This feat marked the third-fastest T20I hundred for an Indian player. Following the match, the young opener revealed that he had used a bat belonging to his long-time friend and teammate, Shubman Gill. He joked that whenever he is desperate for runs, he turns to Gill’s equipment for a bit of extra luck.
2. Andy Sandham
The oldest entry on this list dates back to 1930, during Andy Sandham’s final Test match for England. After his primary bat shattered and realizing he had already sold his spares, Sandham borrowed a bat from his skipper, Freddy Calthorpe. He proceeded to score a massive 325 against the West Indies, marking the first-ever triple century in England’s Test history. Despite being 40 years old at the time, he proved that age and borrowed gear are no barriers to greatness.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
India’s “Gabbar” made one of the most memorable Test debuts in history against Australia in 2013, but few know he did it with Murali Vijay’s bat. Dhawan blazed his way to 187 runs, forming a nearly 300-run opening stand with the very man who lent him the gear. Dhawan’s connection with that specific bat was so strong that he used it throughout the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he ended as the leading run-scorer and helped India lift the trophy.
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4. Shahid Afridi
In one of the most famous stories in cricket folklore, Shahid Afridi’s record-breaking 37-ball ODI century against Sri Lanka was achieved with a bat that had a prestigious lineage. The bat originally belonged to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who had gifted it to Waqar Younis. Younis then handed it to a young Afridi, who used it to dismantle the Sri Lankan bowling attack and set a world record that stood for nearly two decades.
5. Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath’s golden run in the early 1980s was fueled by a bat borrowed from his teammate Sandeep Patil. Amarnath used this borrowed equipment to amass over 1,100 runs across consecutive series against Pakistan and the West Indies. This incredible form served as a prelude to his heroics in the 1983 World Cup, where his composure and skill helped India secure its first global title.
