Ranji Trophy 2024: Hyderabad prodigy Rahul Singh Gahlaut dazzles with double century against Nagaland

The 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season began with a dazzling display of batting prowess as Hyderabad's debutant Rahul Singh Gahlaut etched his name into the tournament's record books. Against Nagaland's bowling attack on the opening day, Rahul's bat orchestrated a breathtaking symphony, notching an astonishing 214 runs off a mere 157 deliveries, embellished with nine majestic sixes and 23 boundaries.

Hyderabad, having been pushed to bat first, seized the opportunity with gusto. Their scoreboard burgeoned to a staggering 475 runs for the loss of 5 wickets by the day's conclusion, prompting their declaration. The backbone of this formidable innings was the remarkable debutant, Rahul Singh Gahlaut, who unleashed an aggressive onslaught, effortlessly dispatching the ball beyond the boundary.

The innings commenced with a solid contribution from opener Tanmay Agarwal, who notched an impressive 80 runs before his departure. Rahul, in tandem with skipper Tilak Varma, orchestrated a commanding 118-run partnership, ensuring Hyderabad's dominance over the seemingly unassuming Nagaland bowling attack.

However, Nagaland's Khrievitso Kense eventually managed to break Hyderabad's formidable stand by dismissing Rahul at an impressive 214 runs, curtailing his fantastic innings. Rahul's monumental knock not only secured his place in history but also marked his achievement of surpassing 3,000 runs in First-Class cricket. Across 43 matches, he has amassed an impressive 3,141 runs at an average exceeding 41, boasting nine centuries and 15 half-centuries. His 214-run knock stands as his career-best performance.

Rahul defining batting at domestic circuit

Rahul's cricketing prowess was further highlighted as he crafted the second-fastest Indian First-Class double century, achieving the milestone in a blistering 143 balls and culminating with a resounding six. The record for the fastest Indian double century in First-Class cricket still remains with the iconic Ravi Shastri, who achieved this feat in 123 balls while playing for Bombay against Baroda at the Wankhede Stadium.

Rahul's batting skill was evident from his previous stints, notably as the highest run-scorer for Services in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, where he amassed 505 runs in seven matches, boasting an average of 38.84. His exceptional feat included becoming the first batter in Services' history to surpass the 450-run mark in a single season.