NEW DELHI — As families across India deck the halls for Christmas, the nation's digital pulse raced to the rhythm of record-shattering sixes and a flawless rocket launch. Google Trends on Wednesday painted a vivid portrait of a country gripped by Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) batting blitzes, bureaucratic deadlines, and stellar space feats. Here's the top 10 stories capturing India's zeitgeist—where underdogs rewrote record books and deadlines loomed like festive fog.
1. Anmolpreet Singh: The Record That Sparked a Revolution
Punjab's powerhouse batter Anmolpreet Singh found himself thrust back into the spotlight—not for a new heroics, but as the benchmark for batting insanity. His 35-ball List A century from last year's VHT was demolished twice over in a single afternoon: first by Bihar's Sakibul Gani in 32 balls, then Jharkhand's Ishan Kishan in 33. Fans scoured highlights of Anmolpreet's 115* off 45 against Chandigarh, toasting him as the unwitting architect of Wednesday's record frenzy. "From trailblazer to trivia king," one viral tweet quipped.
2. Ayush Anand Loharuka: Bihar's Batting Enforcer Steals the Show
In a match that redefined List A excess, 22-year-old Bihar wicketkeeper Ayush Anand Loharuka bludgeoned 116 off just 56 balls—including 11 fours—for a strike rate over 200. His knock anchored Bihar's jaw-dropping 574/6 against Arunachal Pradesh, the highest team total in List A history. As scouts and selectors took note, searches surged for the young gun's pull-shot masterclass, cementing Bihar's underdog roar in VHT's explosive opener.
3. Ishan Kishan: A 33-Ball Thunderbolt Shakes Selectors
Jharkhand skipper Ishan Kishan delivered a seismic audition for India's T20 World Cup squad, smashing a 33-ball century—the second-fastest by an Indian in List A cricket—against Karnataka. Unbeaten on 108* off 35 balls at a blistering strike rate of 308, Kishan turned heads post-injury. "Selectors, your move," fans demanded online, driving queries on his IPL prospects and boundary barrage.
4. Delhi's VHT Chase: Kohli's Return Fuels National Frenzy
Virat Kohli's long-awaited domestic List A comeback headlined Delhi's pursuit of Andhra Pradesh's 298/8 in VHT Group D, with the hosts steady at 55/1 after 6.1 overs. Teamed with a firing Prithvi Shaw, Kohli's rust-shedding effort sparked "form watch" mania, blending live-score hunts with debates on his ODI future. In a tournament teeming with stars, Delhi's drama became the midday must-follow.
5. PAN-Aadhaar Panic: Deadline Dash Hits Fever Pitch
Joy to the world? Not if your PAN isn't linked to Aadhaar. With the December 31 cutoff fast approaching—no grace periods this time—millions rushed to NSDL portals for status checks, facing inoperative PANs and Rs 1,000 fines from January 1. WhatsApp chains and finance apps amplified the alarm, turning a tax chore into a trending survival saga amid holiday cheer.
6. Prithvi Shaw: Redemption Runs Light Up the Pitch
Once India's teenage sensation, Prithvi Shaw is scripting a VHT revival. His 45 off 35 for Maharashtra against Punjab, followed by a 66-off-30 chase thriller vs. Bihar, reignited hopes for an IPL Mumbai Indians recall. Searches dissected his boundary flair and swing tips, as fans rallied behind the opener's bid to bury inconsistency in a blaze of glory.
7. Vishnu Vinod: Kerala's Quiet Anchor in Batting Storm
Amid VHT's fireworks, Kerala's Vishnu Vinod emerged as the unsung hero, trending on his IPL Punjab Kings buzz and status as the 2019-20 VHT top-scorer (508 runs at 63.50 average). His third domestic ton this season drew queries on middle-order mastery, offering a steady counterpoint to the day's six-hitting hysteria.
8. ISRO's LVM3 Triumph: Heaviest Payload Soars Flawlessly
Dawn broke with a bang at Sriharikota: ISRO's LVM3-M6 rocket at 8:54 AM IST lofted the 6.5-tonne U.S. BlueBird Block-2 satellite—the heaviest ever for an Indian launcher—into perfect orbit. This commercial coup, wrapping by 1 PM, celebrated India's space self-reliance, with millions tuning into live streams and hailing it as a pre-Christmas gift from the stars.
9. Rohit Sharma: Hitman's Domestic Dash Delights Fans
White-ball wizard Rohit Sharma captained Mumbai to a breezy 237-run VHT chase against Sikkim, notching a 27-ball fifty at 200+ strike rate and unbeaten 56 off 32. Fresh off T20 retirement ripples, the "Hitman" blended captaincy cool with rapid-fire joy, fueling searches on his boundary artistry and leadership legacy.
10. Sakibul Gani: Bihar Skipper's 32-Ball Epic Rewrites History
Bihar's Sakibul Gani owned the narrative with a 32-ball 128*—the fastest List A hundred by an Indian—propelling his side's record 574/6 vs. Arunachal. Shattering Anmolpreet Singh's mark in a 40-ball six-fest, the captain's underdog tale exploded online, blending Bihar pride with queries on his journey from obscurity to icon.
