Ranji Trophy is a huge platform for the budding cricketers in India and for years has been credited with preparing them for the national side.
The 2016-17 Ranji has already become one of the best Ranji Seasons so far, with many youngsters showing their potentials and making a name for them in the tournament, a lot of records have been broken so far.
Let's take a look at 5 records which have been broken in the Ranji 2016-17 so far:
#1 The fastest century in Ranji history – 100 of 48 (Rishabh Pant)
Rishabh Pant, the prolific Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman, has been phenomenal in the Ranji season so far. He has scored 907 runs with an average of more than 90 and at a brilliant strike rate of 106.70. Pant has been sensational since his first-class debut against Bengal for Delhi on October 22nd, 2015.
The young Delhi wicketkeeper entered the book of records on November 8, 2016 when he scored the fastest century ever in the history of Ranji trophy. Pant struck a superb century off just 48 balls in a game against Jharkhand. He was finally sent back after a brilliant knock of 135 off just 67 deliveries.
The 48-ball ton shattered the 28 years old record held jointly by Rajesh Borah and VB Chandrasekhar who scored a century off 56 balls each. Pant didn’t only break the record for the fastest first class 100 but also became the third youngest triple centurion and the second wicket keeper batsman in Ranji Trophy's history to have edged past the 300 mark. In his firing 308 off 326 balls against Maharashtra, he smashed 42 fours and nine sixes.
It will be too early to say that but this young wicket keeper batsman certainly has a bright future and can be the next big thing in Indian cricket.
#2 Highest partnership in a Ranji Trophy match – 594 runs (Swapnil Gugale and Ankit Bawne)
It was a historical day at the Wankhede stadium, as two Maharashtra batsmen Swapnil Gugale and Ankit Bawne were battling it out with the Delhi bowlers for nearly two days, moving towards a mounting partnership of 594 runs. The dynamic duo batted together to add 594 runs to the total and went on to be a part of the record highest partnership for any wicket in a Ranji Trophy match.
Gugale and Bawne against Delhi scored unbeaten 351 and 258 respectively and registered the record of highest partnership for any wicket in Ranji Trophy's history. They scrapped the 70 years old previous partnership record of 577 for the fourth wicket set by Vijay Hazare and Gul Mohammed for Baroda against Holkar in 1946-57.
Gugale's 351 off 521 balls contained 5 sixes and 37 fours, while his third wicket partner Bawane who remained not out on 258 struck 18 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. They missed out on the world record partnership of 624 runs in first-class cricket set by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, by just 30 odd runs.
#3 Two captains score a triple century each - (Swapnil Gugale (351*) for Maharashtra and Sagun Kamat (304*) for Goa
Hundreds are good, but triple hundreds are better. So far, this Ranji season has seen three triple centuries being scored by three different batsmen and two of them happen to be the skippers of their respective teams. The captains indeed led from the fronts.
It is a record and has happened for the very first time that 2 captains have scored a triple century each in a single season. Swapnil Gugale (351*) for Maharashtra and Sagun Kamat (304*) for Goa have unknowingly created a wonderful record of hitting triple centuries together in the same season. This is the first Ranji Trophy season where more than one captain has scored a triple century.
While Gugale with his unbeaten 351 was part of a terrific 594 runs partnership with his Maharashtra teammate Ankit Bawne, Kamat scored 304* and became the first batsman from Goa to become a triple centurion. With his 304* Kamat also broke the record of best individual performance for Goa in Ranji Trophy beating the previous best of 254* by Swapnil Asnodkar.
#4 Three 250 and above individual scores in a single match – Swapnil Gugale, Rishabh Pant and Ankit Bawane
The match between Maharashtra and Delhi was a memorable encounter of cricket which will go down in the pages of history, for all the good reasons. The match saw three fabulous batting performances and three massive individual scores of 250+.
This was the game where Maharashtra batsmen Gugale (351*) and Bawane (258*) registered a record partnership of 594 runs for the 4th wicket and Rishabh Pant (308*) the Delhi wicketkeeper, became one of the youngest players ever to score a triple hundred in a Ranji Trophy game.
It was the first time in Ranji Trophy’s history that more than 2 batsmen scored an individual score of 250+ runs in a single match.
#5 Highest number of sixes by an individual in a single match – 21 sixes by Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is on a dream streak and has broken many records in Ranji Trophy 2016-17 so far. The young Delhi powerhouse is known for his fearless and attacking style of play and is the highest run getter of current Ranji season.
Pant recently broke the record of fastest individual 100 in a match against Jharkhand; in the same match, the Delhi batsmen also took the record for most sixes by an individual in a Ranji match. He struck a total 21 sixes in the first and second innings of the game.
The first 8 sixes came in the first innings of 117(106) and the rest 13 came in the second record-breaking innings of 135 runs in just 67 deliveries. The record of most number of sixes by an Indian in a first class match was earlier held by Yusuf Pathan, who smashed 15 sixes in the Duleep Trophy final (2009-10).
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