The Ranji Trophy is more than a domestic competition—it’s a proving ground. The highest individual scores in its long, storied history don’t just represent piles of runs; they tell tales of endurance, skill, and moments when bat met ball in an almost timeless embrace. Here are the top ten such innings—each one a benchmark, each one unforgettable.
1. B. B. Nimbalkar – 443 not out (Maharashtra vs Kathiawar, 1948-49)
Imagine batting through sessions, through bowlers, through fatigue, and still remaining unbeaten at 443. That’s what Bhausaheb B. B. Nimbalkar did at Pune, in a match where Maharashtra piled up 826 for 4. It remains the highest individual score in Ranji history, and ironically, Nimbalkar never got to play Test cricket. His effort is a monument, partly for what it was and partly for what might have been.
2. Prithvi Shaw – 379 (Mumbai vs Assam, 2022-23)
A modern onslaught. Prithvi Shaw’s 379 against Assam combined brute force with composure. In the 2022-23 season, he threw down a massive total that showed contemporary players can still tilt at records with flair. Shaw’s knock signalled not just dominance over bowlers—but mastery over pace, spin, and one's own touch. It revived conversations about what is possible even in today’s game.
3. Sanjay Manjrekar – 377 (Bombay vs Hyderabad, 1990-91)
Over five sessions, Manjrekar batted with the patience of a monk and the precision of a craftsman. His 377 for Bombay was not explosive, but it was utterly unflinching: low risk, high reward. When wickets fell around him, he steadied the ship and amassed enough to etch his name among the greats.
4. M. V. Sridhar – 366 (Hyderabad vs Andhra, 1993-94)
In an era of more bowling-friendly pitches, Sridhar delivered an innings of calm accumulation. His 366 was not just about hitting boundaries, but about occupying the crease, with timing, shot selection, and the kind of stamina that cricket demands of its long innings. Hyderabad benefited hugely, thanks to this display.
5. Tanmay Agarwal – 366 (Hyderabad vs Arunachal Pradesh, 2023-24)
A very different landscape from the early 1990s, but similar demands of concentration. Agarwal’s 366 came in a season where fitness, modern gear, and mental toughness are non-negotiable. He matched Sridhar’s mark, proving that big innings are as much about mental resilience as about waiting for loose balls.
6. Vijay Merchant – 359 not out (Bombay vs Maharashtra, 1943-44)
Merchant’s unbeaten 359 is a classic. He carried his bat through, dominating bowlers and refusing to yield. The “not out” is key: it underscores that he remained invincible across the innings. It’s old-school batting, with technical mastery and concentration shining through.
7. Samit Gohel – 359 not out (Gujarat vs Orissa, 2016-17)
A marathon knock which included carrying his bat and facing over 700 deliveries. It was a display of defiance: a player determined to not let collapse or pressure interrupt his rhythm. Gohel turned what could have been just another triple-century into an epic of patience and unbroken will.
8. V. V. S. Laxman – 353 (Hyderabad vs Karnataka, 1999-2000)
Laxman’s innings is usually remembered for elegance. 353 runs that combined grace with scoring intent. He played off the back foot, caressed the sweep, and punished loose balls. It’s not just how many runs he made but how he made them—flashes of flair, textile craft, and cricketing poetry.
9. Cheteshwar Pujara – 352 (Saurashtra vs Karnataka, 2012-13)
If tests were an art form, Pujara made them manifest in first-class cricket too. His 352 was built around sessions: grit, defence, waiting. Not flashy, often uncelebrated in the moment, but devastatingly effective. A knock that showed you don’t always need to dominate—instead, you can outlast.
10. Swapnil Gugale – 351 not out (Maharashtra vs Delhi, 2016-17)
To finish unbeaten at 351 is to defy the inevitable. Gugale did just that. While wickets tumbled, he stayed. It’s one thing to reach high numbers; it’s another to cross them without losing one’s wicket. The mental battle, as much as the physical, defines such innings.
The DNA of a Giant Innings
These 10 knocks span decades—different eras, pitches, gear, coaching, even attitudes. But what they all share is the same DNA: focus, endurance, shot-discipline, and a hunger not just to score, but to stay. When a batter gets into triple or quadruple figures and doesn’t relent, we witness something rare. In these innings, Ranji history isn’t just written in numbers—it’s written in will.
