On Friday, January 26, during Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh, Hyderabad batsman Tanmay Agarwal made history by recording the fastest triple hundred in first-class cricket. At the NexGen Cricket Ground in Hyderabad, Agarwal hit the milestone in a mere 147 balls and ended the day undefeated on 323* (160), smashing 33 fours and 21 sixes in his innings.
The 28-year-old led Hyderabad to 529/1 at stumps in just 48 overs while playing at an astounding strike rate of 201.87. With a minimum of 200 runs, his blitzkrieg gave him the distinction of having the best strike rate of any Indian batsman in first-class cricket, as well as fourth-best overall. With his fury directed on the bowlers of Andhra Pradesh, the southpaw required just 28 balls to join the exclusive 300 club after reaching his double century in 119 balls.
On the second day of the game, Tanmay Agarwal is expected to do even more spectacular achievements, having already destroyed record books.
With four more maximums to go, the opening batsman, who has already struck 20 sixes in his innings, would have recorded the most sixes in a first-class innings. Currently holding the record is Colin Munro of New Zealand, who hit 23 sixes in his innings of 281 while playing for Auckland against Central Districts in 2014–15.
Tanmay Agarwal also needs to hit 121 more runs to tie the record for the greatest individual score by an Indian in first-class cricket. Currently holding the record is Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, who back in 1948 scored an undefeated 443* for Maharashtra. Conversely, the record first-class individual score belongs to the renowned West Indies batsman Brian Lara, who on June 2, 1994, against Durham, struck 501* off 427 for Warwickshire.
Rahul Singh received 185 (105) as well.
In the meantime, Rahul Singh, the captain of Hyderabad, and Tanmay shared a remarkable partnership of 449 runs for the first wicket, with Singh scoring an outstanding 185 runs (105). Earlier in the day, Techi Doria, the lone fighter with his undefeated 97*, helped Arunachal Pradesh be bundled out for 172. Hyderabad’s seamers Chama Milind (3/36) and Kartikeya Kak (3/28) each claimed three wickets.
Day 1 saw 701 runs scored, only the second time in first-class cricket history that more than 700 runs were scored in a single day.
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