BB Nimbalkar: Remembering the only Indian to score 400 in first class cricket

New Delhi: Only eight players have scored an individual score of 400 runs and more in a first class innings, in ten instances. And only one Indian features in that list, but unluckily he was never considered for the national team.

Without a Test cap, the talent soon became a forgotten name in the cricketing lore.

Born on this day 96 years ago, Bhausaheb Bhausaheb Nimbalkar scored an unbeaten 443 for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy match at Pune in 1948-49.

If it weren't for the Kathiawar captain, Thakore Sahib of Rajkot, who decided to concede the match with the Maharashtra at 826 for 4, Nimbalkar could have eclipsed Don Bradman's then world record score of 452.

His brilliant effort still remains the highest individual score and the only quadruple century in Indian first class cricket.

After making his Ranji debut, Nimbalkar retired with 3687 runs at an average of 56.72 with 11 centuries. In the first class, the prolific scorer had 4577 runs at an average of 52.01 with 12 centuries. He had 58 wickets also in the 80 matches.

Besides being a wicket-keeper batsman, he was also a rare a breed of cricketers who also excel with the ball. A right-arm fast medium, Nimbalkar could have earned an Indian cap, but was never considered. He is fact, the only cricketer ever not to have played Test Cricket despite scoring a quadruple century in first class.

Nimbalkar died in December 11, 2012, one day before his 93rd birthday in Kolhapur. And he is remembered as “the man who nearly beat Bradman”.

For the record, West Indies great Brian Charles Lara is the only player to score a quadruple century in Test, against England on 10th April 2004.