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From record-breakers to record-makers for wrong reasons — Hyderabad’s peculiar Ranji feat

Poulomi Chakraborty

Hyderabad's unique Ranji record (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com)Hyderabad's unique Ranji record (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com)

Cricket is a book of surprises. Some matches inspire greatness, showing players and fans the path to glory. Others swing between extremes, taking us to the highest peaks of triumph or plunging into the deepest valleys of disappointment.

The thrills of international cricket is known to all but domestic cricket is not behind. It has long been the breeding ground for exceptional talent, where emerging players not only make their mark but also rewrite record books with performances that echo far beyond the local grounds.

It’s not always individual brilliance that steals the spotlight; sometimes entire teams create history. Hyderabad did just that in the Ranji Trophy, recording both the highest and the lowest totals of the tournament. That remained the only instance and unique record in the history of the tournament.

Hyderabad reaches unprecedented heights with their best score in 1994

Over the years, Ranji Trophy has gifted some of the finest talents who ruled cricket with their brilliance. Among all the domestic tournaments in India, Ranji Trophy has been the biggest stage of nurturing the talents. Alongside some outstanding personal records some teams shattered the big stage with combined excellence.

Tracing back to Ranji Trophy 1994, Hyderabad shattered the big stage against Andhra with an immortal total on the board. After Andhra put on a massive total of 263 runs, Hyderabad showcased excellence with two double hundred and a triple ton.

After RS Swaroop walked away on 13 runs, Abdul Azeem and Maturi Sridhar’s 144-run partnership changed the way. Though Azeem and Vanka Pratap departed in quick succession, Sridhar joined forces with Vivek Jaisimha to script history. The duo forged a monumental 344-run partnership, dismantling the opposition’s attack. Dominating the opponent bowlers, Sridhar scored an iconic triple hundred and Jaisimha played a crucial knock of 211 runs.

As the Andhra bowlers struggled for answers against Hyderabad’s relentless batting, the real storm was yet to arrive. As Hyderabad was riding high on their form, David smashed an outstanding double ton and remained unbeaten on 207 runs. Riding on this dominant display, Hyderabad declared their innings at a staggering 944, a record-breaking total that still stands as their highest in history.

Hyderabad experiences their darkest batting day with lowest total in 2010-11

As the saying goes, where there’s a hint of darkness, glory often follows, and the reverse holds true as well. Moments of triumph are often shadowed by unexpected lows. After a sky-high glory in the 1994 season, the moment of their biggest disappointment. Facing Rajasthan in their group stage clash in Ranji Trophy 2010-11, Hyderabad had one of their most unforgettable outings.

While batting first, Dwaraka Ravi Teja walked away early, scoring just 1 run. Another opener Akshath Reddy walked away scoring only 6 runs. In front of Rajasthan’s lethal bowling, the Hyderabad batter struggled to stand tall.

Deepak Chahar registered an outstanding spell of 8/10 with an economy rate of 1.33. Adding to that, Pankaj Singh secured another two crucial wickets. In the relentless bowling attack, for Hyderabad, Anirudh Singh’s mere five runs stood as the top score in a dismal display. The innings folded for just 21, a collapse so dramatic that it remains the lowest total in Ranji Trophy history.

A remarkable tale of two contrasting extremes

Every coin has two sides; if one side shows you the tale of bravery, the other side showcases the reflection of a day that was a bad day or a bad outing. On the grand stage of the Ranji Trophy, Hyderabad’s contrasting feats, recording both the highest and lowest totals, perfectly capture cricket’s unpredictable swings. Along with both performances, Hyderabad’s batting order slammed two very different records.

In 1994, the batters’ explosion led their way to the historic feat, and in the 2010-11 season, the batting collapse led them to the forgettable memory. This peculiar feat also reminds fans and players alike that every match is a new story. In cricket, highs and lows often coexist, and Hyderabad’s dual records are a testament to the rollercoaster nature of the sport, thrilling, unpredictable, and endlessly fascinating.