November 7, 1996 – When Wasim Jaffer became the youngest Ranji triple centurion

November 7th, 1996 witnessed the rise of a star and a batsman who can play marathon innings in Wasim Jaffer, who was into his only 2nd first-class match at the early age of 18 years. The Mumbai batsman, who stands as the only player to score 10,000 runs in Ranji Trophy history scored a triple century back then against Saurashtra. On the back of the innings, Jaffer became the youngest ever to score triple hundred in Ranji Trophy and the 2nd youngest ever in first-class history.

Coming back from a low 11 runs on his debut against Gujarat, Jaffer needed to produce a special inning after the home team Saurashtra posted a huge total of 595/4 with help of four centurions. He walked out to bat with Sulakshan Kulkarni on the 3rd morning after Saurashtra declared their innings. The openers were determined to go past the home side’s total as they went to stumps on the 3rd day at 246/0.

The pair put on 459 for the opening wicket before Kulkarni fell after scoring 239. Jaffer gave his team the first innings lead with help of 140-run stand with Sai Raj Bahatule for the 2nd wicket. Jaffer brought up his triple century and went unbeaten on 313 at end of the game with his side scoring 647 for the loss of four wickets. Thus, at the age of 18 years and 262 days, Jaffer became the 2nd youngest FC triple centurion after Javed Miandad who scored at the age of 17 years and 210 days.

A tough record to break

Jaffer’s partnership with Kulkarni was then the 2nd highest for the opening wicket Ranji Trophy behind 464 by Delhi’s R Sehgal and R Lamba. Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund shared a huge 462 runs stand pushing Jaffer-Kulkarni to no.3 in 2008/09 when Mukund became the 2nd youngest Ranji Trophy triple centurion at the age of 18 years and 302 days.

Mukund was also the 3rd youngest to score 300 in FC cricket while Rishabh Pant in the 2016/17 season became the 4th youngest and the 3rd youngest in Ranji Trophy with a triple century at the age of 19 years and 12 days. The closest anyone came to breaking Jaffer was Ishan Kishan in the last edition of Ranji Trophy when he scored 273 for Jharkhand at the age of 18 years and 110 days.

It will be interesting to see if anyone can break Wasim Jaffer’s record in India’s premier first-class tournament in near future. The exciting young batsman Prithvi Shaw, also from Mumbai could well challenge this record if he manages to convert his centuries into biggies as he already scored four 100s in five FC games he played before turning 18.

(Note – Ages as on day one of the matches. The Mumbai- Saurashtra game started on November 4th and ended on 7th)