NEW DELHI: Goa batters Kashyap Bakle and Snehal Kauthankar made history in the Ranji Trophy, setting an incredible new record with an unbeaten 606-run partnership for the third wicket — the highest-ever in the tournament’s storied 90-year old history.
Both Bakle (300*) and Kauthankar (314*) remained unbeaten as Goa declared their first innings at 727/2 on Thursday against Arunachal Pradesh (84 all out) in a Plate League match in Provorim, Goa.
The unbroken 606-run partnership between Kauthankar and Bakle is now the second-highest stand in first-class cricket history, surpassed only by the 624-run partnership between Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in a 2006 Test match.
The record for the highest partnership in Ranji’s history previously stood at 594*, achieved when Swapnil Gugale and Ankit Bawne batted together for Maharashtra against Delhi during the 2016-17 season.
Bakle and Kauthankar displayed remarkable resilience, skill, and determination, frustrating their opponents and etching their names in the record books. This historic achievement has placed them among the legends of the Ranji Trophy.
Remarkably, this is only the second time in Ranji history that two triple centuries have been scored in the same innings. The first such instance occurred in the 1989-90 season, when Tamil Nadu’s WV Raman and AG Kripal Singh slammed triple hundreds against Goa.
Earlier on Day 1, Goa pacer Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old left-arm seamer finished with impressive figures of 5 for 25 in 9 overs, which included three maiden overs. This achievement came in his 17th first-class match, as Arjun spearheaded the collapse of the Arunachal Pradesh batting lineup.
