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Record Alert! Kerala Batter Scripts History With Gritty Ton In Ranji Semi-Final

Soumyajit Dutta

Mohammed Azharuddeen [Source: @Joppan---/X.com]Mohammed Azharuddeen [Source: @Joppan---/X.com]

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In a gripping display of resilience and sheer class, Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen carved his name into the record books on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium. With a gritty mindset, he not only anchored Kerala's innings but also etched his name in a rare list.

The wicketkeeper-batter became the first player from Kerala to score a century in the history of the tournament’s semi-finals, anchoring his team to a commanding position with an unbeaten century as the match is ongoing.

The Record-Breaking Knock Of  Azharuddeen At Ahmedabad

Seven years after notching his maiden first-class century batting at No. 3, Azharuddeen delivered a masterclass in patience and composure, this time from the No. 6 position. 

His 100, marked only his second first-class ton and propelled Kerala to a 300+ score by the second session of Day 2. The 30-year-old’s knock, studded with 13 boundaries and a six, was a stark departure from his naturally aggressive style. 

Battling Gujarat’s disciplined bowling attack on a tricky Ahmedabad surface, Azharuddeen shelved flamboyance for grit negotiating spin duo Ravi Bishnoi and Siddharth Desai with tactical precision.

The Kerala dugout erupted as he reached the milestone, with teammates and staff rising to applaud the historic feat. Azharuddeen also became only the second Kerala batter this season to breach the three-figure mark, underlining his clutch performance on the big stage.

Building the Innings With patience

Azharuddeen’s innings was a tale of restraint. Walking in after the dismissals of Kerala’s top order, he initially played second fiddle to skipper Sachin Baby, stitching a 49-run partnership to steady the ship. Even after Baby fell at 206/5, Azharuddeen held firm, accelerating judiciously alongside Salman Nizar, tilting the game in Kerala’s favour.

Azharuddeen's Domestic Career

Notably, Azharuddeen has had a solid career in First-Class cricket, playing 33 matches and scoring 1589 runs at an average of 32.42. His consistent performances have been highlighted by a strike rate of 65.47. He has also registered two centuries and 12 half-centuries in his career. 

With Azharuddeen still at the crease, Kerala will aim to push past 400 on Day 3, building pressure on Gujarat’s star-studded batting lineup featuring Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai.