KL Rahul becomes first Karnataka batsman to score 300 in Ranji Trophy

Gundappa Viswanath’s 247 was the previous best by any Karnataka batsman against UP.

Batting against Uttar Pradesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, on Day Two in the eighth round of Ranji Trophy 2014-15, KL Rahul became the first Karnataka batsman to score a Ranji Trophy triple-hundred. Rahul reached the landmark with 42 fours and three sixes. He had found some support in Robin Uthappa, but the Karnataka scorecard made a sorry reading at 148 for four.

Rahul finally found support in Shreyas Gopal, who helped him put up 181. CM Gautam followed Gopal at the crease and helped put up another 52. Before today Gautam had been the holder for the third-highest score for Karnataka with 264 not out against Madhya Pradesh in 2004-05. The top two names on the list were those of Barrington Rowland (283 vs Bengal in 1990-91) and Arjun Raja (267 vs Maharashtra in 2012-13).

Rahul eventually registered the triple-hundred in the company of Abrar Kazi. It was also the second triple-hundred by any batsman against Uttar Pradesh (erstwhile United Provinces) following Kedar Jadhav’s 327 in 2012-13. Just for the record, Gundappa Viswanath’s 247 in 1977-78 was the previous best by any Karnataka batsman against Uttar Pradesh before today.

Highest score by Karnataka batsmen in Ranji Trophy

Highest scores against Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy

Rahul’s triple-hundred, however, is not the first at Bangalore. That record still remains with VVS Laxman, who had amassed 353 in his magical season of 1999-2000. However, he finished with 336, which is the eighth-highest score in the history of Ranji Trophy.

Highest scores in Ranji Trophy

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