Heartbreak in Ranji Trophy! Sudip Kumar Gharami OUT at 299 after rescuing Bengal alone

Sudip Kumar Gharami hits a solid 299 in Ranji Trophy clash [Source: X]

The Ranji Trophy third quarter-final between Bengal and Andhra at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground has been an exciting affair defined by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s extraordinary batting display that has tilted the balance firmly towards the hosts. The young Bengal batter had a heartbreak of a lifetime that could have etched his name in the golden books of Indian domestic cricket.

Earlier, Andhra, batting first after winning the toss, posted a competitive 295 on a pitch offering early assistance to the seamers. Bengal's pace trio of Mukesh Kumar (5-66) and Akash Deep (4-79) shared nine wickets, exploiting movement to bundle out the visitors in under 90 overs. Captain Ricky Bhui's 83 provided the backbone for Andhra, but regular strikes prevented a bigger total.

Bengal’s early jitters before Sudip Gharami’s arrival

In response, Bengal faced early jitters under overcast conditions. Openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sudip Chatterjee departed cheaply, followed quickly by Anustup Majumdar, leaving the hosts reeling at 43 for 3. The Andhra bowlers, led by KV Sasikanth and Nitish Kumar Reddy, maintained tight lines, making run-scoring difficult in the initial phases.

What followed was a resilience for the ages from Bengal's middle order, as they steadily rebuilt through gritty partnerships. The pitch eased out over time, allowing the batters to settle without risking it too much.

Sudip Gharami’s near-miss for triple century glory

The spotlight, however, fell on Sudip Kumar Gharami, who anchored the innings with remarkable composure. Facing 596 deliveries over two days, he etched a historic knock. His innings featured 31 boundaries and six maximums.

In a cruel twist, Gharami was dismissed for 299, cleaned up by legbreak spinner Shaik Rasheed, falling agonizingly short of what would have been a maiden triple century. The dismissal sparked visible heartbreak in the Bengal dugout, as the 26-year-old had batted for over 12 hours, carrying his team from ruins to riches.

[Table for triple centurions in Ranji Trophy in recent years]

His 299 is now the cornerstone of Bengal's massive first-innings total of 629, giving them a commanding 334-run lead. Key partnerships, including 165 with Sumanta Gupta (81) and 221 with wicketkeeper Shakir Habib Gandhi (95), underscored Gharami's ability to build innings while others played around him.

Who is Sudip Kumar Gharami?

Born on March 21, 1999, in North Parganas, Bengal, Sudip Kumar Gharami is a right-handed batter known for his exploits and temperament suited to long-format cricket. He made his first-class debut in the 2020-21 season in the Ranji Trophy final against Saurashtra.

Gharami has since become a mainstay in Bengal's batting lineup, often batting at No. 3 or 4. His consistency in domestic cricket has seen him amass 2,066 first-class runs at an average of 36.24.

He has featured in 28 List A matches, scoring 1,210 runs at a strike rate of 88.45 and an impressive average of 52.60. In first-class cricket, Sudeep has registered six centuries and 10 half-centuries, while in List A cricket, he has added four centuries and five half-centuries to his name.

Bengal in solid position after Gharami’s stance

As Day 4 progresses, Bengal's bowlers will make to look early inroads in Andhra's second innings, building pressure with the substantial lead of 334 runs.

Sudip Kumar Gharami's innings not only rescued Bengal but has set up a potential outright victory. While the personal milestone of 300 eluded him by a single run, his effort stands as one of the finest in recent Ranji history, even as Gharami himself might rue that one fateful delivery.