Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande Script History: First No. 10-11 Pair to Score Centuries in a Ranji Trophy Innings, Smash First-Class Records
Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande etched their names in history by becoming only the second No. 10 and No. 11 pair in First-Class cricket to register centuries in the same innings during the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Baroda.
Collaborating for the final wicket with Mumbai at 337 for nine overnight, Kotian and Deshpande displayed remarkable resilience, batting Baroda out of contention and securing a 36-run first-innings lead. Kotian reached his century first, taking 115 balls and hitting nine fours and three sixes. Deshpande swiftly followed suit in 112 deliveries, accumulating eight fours and six maximums, both players achieving their maiden First-Class hundreds.
This achievement marks only the second instance after Chandu Sarwate and Shute Banerjee accomplished the feat in a Surrey v Indians match at the Oval in 1946.
The partnership between Kotian and Deshpande also marks just the third instance where an Indian pair has orchestrated a remarkable 200-plus stand for the last wicket. Moreover, Deshpande’s exceptional century makes him only the third Indian batsman to achieve a First-Class hundred while batting at number 11, surpassing Banerjee’s previous record of 121 to claim the highest First-Class score by an Indian number 11 batsman. Deshpande’s innings culminated at 123, concluding the partnership at 232, falling just one run shy of the Ranji Trophy record.
Although Sarwate and Banerjee boast the overall Indian record with their 249-run partnership, the Ranji Trophy record is held by Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh. This extraordinary achievement was realized with a 233-run partnership against Bombay in the 1991-92 Ranji semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While Sharma led the charge with an unbeaten 259, Singh contributed 78 to their partnership, ultimately propelling Delhi to victory by virtue of the first-innings lead.
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