Tanmay Agarwal might have missed out on breaking Brian Lara's record for the highest individual score in First-Class cricket (501*), but he did set a new world record for the most sixes in an innings. Playing for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh at the NexGen Cricket Ground, Tanmay Agarwal, after playing a towering knock, was eventually dismissed for 366 on Saturday, January 27.
Starting the day at 323, Agarwal quickly reached 350, adding five sixes to his previous night's tally of 21, ending with 26 - the highest in a First-Class innings, overtaking Colin Munro's record of 23 sixes for Auckland against Central Districts in 2015. Shafiqullah Shinwari of Afghanistan is third on this list with 22 sixes for Kabul Region against Boost. Agarwal's achievement eclipses the prior record of 14 sixes in a First-Class innings, shared by Ishan Kishan and Shakti Singh.
Agarwal's score of 366 ties with MV Sridhar for the fourth-highest first-class score by an Indian. The national record is held by BB Nimbalkar with an unbeaten 443 in a Ranji Trophy match between Maharashtra and Kathiawar, which is also the only quadruple century in the Ranji Trophy.
Agarwal's innings comprised 34 fours and 26 sixes from just 181 balls, leading to a striking rate of 202.21. Hyderabad declared their first innings at 615 for 5 in 59.3 overs, setting a lead of 443, and achieving a run rate of over 10 runs per over.
"I feel good and grateful. After I completed 150, I just started hitting and luck was in my favour. I always found middle of the bat and balls went out. I just kept batting and kept hitting," a composed Agarwal, who scored a world record triple century off just 147 balls, told PTI.
So when did he come to know about the world record?
"After the end of the day's play... From teammates to my family, everyone is very happy," Agarwal, who already has 11 first-class tons before this record, added.
What is his perspective on scoring a triple century, given the caliber of the opposing team?
"When you compare with Elite teams, this kind of feat is not possible, but I didn't think about the quality of the opposition and kept playing the way I had to.
"The world record just happened. Nothing was planned. There were no plans that I would do this and that. It just happened," said Agarwal, who has played all his cricket for Hyderabad.
Tanmay wasn't even contemplating surpassing the iconic Lara's record unbeaten score of 501.
"No, I am not because I don't know how much longer we will be batting on Saturday. As long as I bat tomorrow, I will try to play like I started the innings today. If it happens, it happens. I don't have in mind that I have to achieve this or that," Agarwal concluded.
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