Sharukh Khan missed double century by 6 runs, scored 194 off 148 deliveries against Delhi
The Ranji Trophy 2021-22 finally got underway on February 17 after being rescheduled multiple times due to Covid scare this season. It’s a relief for the followers of the game to see the first-class players engage in duels of red ball cricket after the coveted domestic competition was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
Let’s take a look at the amazing performances delivered by players so far.
Delhi vs TN, Guwahati: Shahrukh Khan and Baba Indrajith strike centuries
Delhi squared off with Tamil Nadu in Guwahati in a Group H Ranji game. After Tamil Nadu lost their first five wickets for 162, lower-order batters Shahrukh Khan and Baba Indrajith rescued their side from further collapse. Both batters completed their centuries one after another.
Shahrukh, who recently bagged a huge price of INR 9 crores in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from Punjab Kings (PBKS), took an aggressive approach right from the start to complete his century in just 89 deliveries. He continued his assault on opposition bowlers to cross 150 quickly. However, he missed his double century by just 6 runs. He smoked 20 boundaries and 10 towering sixes in his phenomenal knock. Shahrukh Khan scored 194 runs off 148 balls. Baba Indrajith also scored his 117 at a quick pace in just 149 deliveries.
Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull also smashed a century (113 runs) on first-class debut in the same match for Delhi.
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Bihar vs Mizoram, Kolkata: Sakibul Gani hammers triple ton on debut and put up astronomical 538-run stand with Babul Kumar (229)
From three down for 71, the 22-year-old batter from Bihar, Sakibul Gani, and Babul Kumar rebuilt the innings with a mammoth partnership of 538 runs against Mizoram in Kolkata. Gani amassed 341 runs off 405 deliveries with the help of 56 elegant boundaries and two sixes. The right-hander Kumar smashed an unbeaten knock of 229 runs off 398 deliveries.
In the first innings of the game, Mizoram one down batter Taruwar Kohli notched up a huge century, 151 off 289 deliveries to help his side reach near 300.
Hyderabad vs Chandigarh, Cuttack: India international Hanuma Vihari cracks century
Hyderabad locked horns with Chandigarh at Vikas Cricket Ground in Cuttack in a Group B Ranji match. India batter Hanuma Vihari who went unsold in the recently concluded IPL mega-auction struck a century (106 runs) with the help of 15 stylish boundaries.
Left-handed batter Tilak Varma, who bagged a contract of INR 1.7 crores from Mumbai Indians in the IPL auction smashed a half-century (68 runs) for Hyderabad in his second first-class match.
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Mumbai vs Saurashtra, Ahmedabad: Sarfaraz Khan clobbers monumental double century; Ajinkya Rahane smashes century
From the treacherous condition of 44 for three, Mumbai middle-order batters Sarfaraz Khan and Ajinkya Rahane rescued their side by stitching a partnership of 252 runs on the first day of the match. Sarfaraz scored 275 runs off 401 deliveries with the help of 30 boundaries and seven elephantine sixes.
India international Ajinkya Rahane smacked a century (129 runs) after 417 days in first-class cricket, whereas his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed on duck while playing for Saurashtra by medium-pacer Mohit Avasthi.
J&K vs Puducherry, Chennai: All-rounder Abdul Samad smashes a quickfire century
Jammu & Kashmir are engaged in a Group C game against Puducherry at Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering Ground in Chennai.
Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Abdul Samad played a whirlwind knock to complete a century (103 runs) in just 68 deliveries with the help of 19 boundaries and two sixes. Abdul Samad was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 4 crores ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction.
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Uttar Pradesh vs Vidarbha, Sultanpur: Faiz Fazal hits 192
Vidarbha opener and captain Faiz Fazal played a huge knock of 192 runs off 302 deliveries comprising of 27 boundaries and three sixes. Second opener Sanjay Raghunath assisted Fazal with 96 runs off 196 deliveries.
Also, Vidarbha’s middle-order batter Akshay Wadkar smashed an unbeaten knock of 102 runs off 150 deliveries to help their side cross 500.
Prabsimran Singh scored century (123 runs) on debut for Punjab and skipper Manish Pandey scored 121-ball 156 runs for Karnataka against Railways.
The Ranji Trophy 2021-22 is being played in two phases with the knockouts going to be held in June after the conclusion of IPL 2022.
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