Dhanawade gets MCA scholarship after 1009-run feat

A day after Mumbai school cricketer Pranav Dhanawade scored a world record of 1,009 not out in an H.T. Bhandari Cup Under-16 inter-school tournament match, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced a scholarship of Rs.10,000 per month for the 15-year-old.

Pranav's epic 323-ball knock consisted of a staggering 59 sixes and 129 fours. His team, K.C. Gandhi High School, declared their innings at 1,465 for 6 with Pranav remaining unbeaten at 1,009.

He batted for 395 minutes and had a strike rate of 312.38. The youngster broke a 116-year-old record after surpassing 652 on Monday, thus taking over the reins of the highest individual score (including minor cricket) from A.E.J. Collins of England.

"Honorable president Sharad Pawar, on behalf of the Mumbai Cricket Association, has announced a scholarship of Rs.10,000 per month to Mr Pranav Dhanawade for scoring a World Record 1009 runs in a single innings," the MCA said in a release on Wednesday.

On Monday, the teenager also crossed Prithvi Shaw's record of 546 runs scored two years ago in a Harris Shield match, an innings that had previously been the highest individual score in any form of cricket in India.

"The said scholarship will be paid for a period of five years commencing from January 2016 to December 2021. The Association will monitor the cricketing and educational activities of Pranav Dhanawade for the said period," the MCA release said.

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, India limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, star batsman Ajinkya Rahane and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh on Tuesday congratulated the boy for his stupendous effort.