Photo via Wisden

When the first Ranji Trophy 400 turned into a standoff over Bradman’s record

In a historic Ranji Trophy clash in December 1948, Bhausaheb Nimbalkar etched his name into cricket history by becoming the first Indian batsman to score a quadruple century, amassing an unbeaten 443 for Maharashtra against Kathiawar. His innings, which included a 455-run partnership with Kamal Bhandarkar and a 242-run stand with Sharad Deodhar, saw him just nine runs short of surpassing Don Bradman’s then-world record of 452.

With Maharashtra holding a commanding 608-run lead at tea on the third day, Kathiawar’s captain, Thakore Saheb of Rajkot, refused to allow the game to continue, denying Nimbalkar the chance to break Bradman’s record. Despite pleas from Maharashtra’s captain, Raja Gokhale, and the match officials, Kathiawar forfeited the game, leaving Nimbalkar stranded at 443.

The decision sparked controversy, with Nimbalkar later criticizing the unsporting approach, calling it a missed opportunity to surpass Bradman’s legendary score. The record would eventually be broken by Hanif Mohammad in 1959, though Nimbalkar’s near-miss remains one of cricket’s most intriguing ‘what-if’ moments.

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