Nimbalkar's 443-run knock (Source: @en_Bharatpedia/x.com)
As a kid, you may have dreamt of entering the field wearing the long-desired Indian jersey, joining the chorus of the national anthem, and with your every boundary, the nation will take a deep breath of pride. It’s a dream that often begins with a small bat, a pair of oversized gloves, and a heart full of hope for the future.
Before making a debut for India, the big stage for the grand entry has always begun with domestic cricket. The Indian domestic side has delivered some of the best talents who have shattered the grassroots level and held India’s head high on the global stage.
But not all stories don’t have a fairytale ending, as some of the best cricketing talents remained just as shining domestic stars, just as BB Nimbalkar. Despite a quadruple century in the Ranji Trophy, playing Test cricket for India remained his biggest unfulfilled wish. Here’s a look back at the untold story of his quiet heroism and enduring legacy.
Nimbalkar’s 443 becomes Ranji’s timeless epic
Over the years, India and sporting brilliance have become inseparable, and nowhere is that bond stronger than in cricket. More than just a game, cricket in India is an emotion, a shared heartbeat that unites millions. Every boundary makes hearts race, every wicket sparks euphoria. But the stars add the missing ingredients that spice things up a little bit extra.
Apart from the international stars, India has produced some of the most precious gems in Indian cricket. Among them stands B.B. Nimbalkar, a name that may never have graced the Test arena, yet carved an unforgettable chapter in domestic cricket with a record-breaking Ranji Trophy knock that still stands as a towering milestone in red-ball history.
In the first round of the 1948 Ranji Trophy season, Maharashtra met Kathiawar, and the match became iconic forever. While batting first, Kathiawar ended their innings in 238 runs. While chasing the total, Maharashtra batters shattered the stage with excellence. After Madhusudan Rege missed a well-deserved half-century, Nimbalkar joined Kamal Bhandarkar on the crease.
Pushing the side towards the great total, both the batters crossed the century and double century mark. After Bhandarkar walked away, scoring 205 runs along with 24 boundaries. But Nimbalkar was not in the intention of stopping as he was smashing all over the grounds.
Crossing the 300-run mark, he smashed his maiden and only quadruple century and marked an iconic feat. The Kathiawar bowlers left scratching their heads as the Maharashtra batter remained unbeaten on 443 runs with 49 boundaries and one over-boundary.
Bradman’s domestic glory nearly stays out of Nimbalkar’s reach
Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s outstanding, unbeaten 443-run innings was a statement knock in the Ranji Trophy stage, as it was a remarkable feat. As the batter looked almost unstoppable, Don Bradman‘s world record of 452 runs was under threat. But an unsportsmanlike move from the Kathiawar side ended the remarkable innings prematurely.
During the third day of the match, they ended the match abruptly and which halted his innings in the middle. Ended at 443 in 455 runs, he missed Bradman’s feat of 452 by just nine runs. That unprofessional behaviour by the opponent grabbed the attention.
Test honor slips past Nimbalkar
Being an icon in the domestic circuit, every cricketer dreamt of representing India in the longest format. For Nimbalkar, that dream remained just out of reach, leaving him celebrated for his domestic brilliance but never seen on the international stage.
Despite a breathtaking quadruple century, B.B. Nimbalkar never got a Test call-up. Even in the Commonwealth, where he scored 48 runs, his red-ball dream stayed just out of reach.
Throughout a glittering domestic career filled with brilliant knocks, the world never witnessed the full extent of his talent. With a remarkable feat, Nimbalkar remained India’s iconic domestic hero forever.
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