Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Tanmay Agarwal's record triple ton powers Hyderabad's dominant day against Arunachal Pradesh

The Hyderabad batter Tanmay Agarwal made history by achieving the fastest triple century in first-class cricket during Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, January 26. Agarwal reached this milestone in only 147 deliveries, ending the day unbeaten on 323 runs from 160 balls. His extraordinary innings at the NexGen Cricket Ground in Hyderabad included an impressive display of 33 fours and 21 sixes.

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At a stunning strike rate of 201.87, the right-hand batter propelled Hyderabad to 529/1 by stumps in a mere 48 overs. His explosive performance earned him the distinction of holding the highest strike rate by an Indian batter in first-class cricket with a minimum of 200 runs, ranking fourth overall. Achieving his double century in just 119 balls, the left-hander then reached the exclusive 300 club in a mere 28 more deliveries, unleashing his dominance over the Arunachal Pradesh bowlers.

With record books already rewritten, Tanmay is poised for more historic feats on the game's second day. The opener, who has already launched 20 sixes in his innings, is just four hits away from surpassing the record for the most sixes in a first-class innings. Currently, this record is held by New Zealand’s Colin Munro, who hammered 23 sixes in the 2014/15 season while playing for Auckland against Central Districts during his knock of 281 runs.

Agarwal and Rahul Singh stitched an opening partnership 

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In an astounding display of batting prowess, the opening pair crafted an exceptional first-wicket partnership, accumulating 449 runs in just 242 deliveries. Agrawal’s partner in this formidable alliance was Hyderabad captain Rahul Singh, who also showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable knock of 185 runs from 105 balls.

Together, both the batters orchestrated a monumental partnership of 449 runs for the opening wicket. Earlier in the day, Arunachal Pradesh succumbed to Hyderabad's bowling attack, managing a total of 172 runs, with Techi Doria being the lone fighter with his unbeaten 97*. Seamers Chama Milind (3/36) and Kartikeya Kak (3/28) wreaked havoc, each claiming three wickets for Hyderabad. The day witnessed a total of 701 runs being scored, marking only the second instance in first-class cricket history where over 700 runs were scored in a single day.