OTD| Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri smashed the fastest first-class double-century in 1985

Today people know Ravi Shastri as an exuberant commentator but he was a combative player in his playing days. The tall top-order batting all-rounder from Mumbai smashed the fastest first-class double century on this day. He played this swashbuckling knock against Baroda in a Ranji Trophy match at the Wankhede Stadium. 

Lead for Bombay in the first innings

Sunil Gavaskar won the toss for Bombay and opted to bat first. Openers Lalchand Rajput and Ghulam Parkar added 153 runs for the first wicket keeping Baroda under pressure from the word go. Parkar went on to score 170 runs and helped Bombay put 371 runs on the board in the first innings. At No.3 Shishir Hattangadi made a significant 83 runs which was pivotal in carrying his team to a comprehensive score. 

In reply, Baroda scored 330 runs before declaring the innings. Indian stalwart Mohinder Amarnath played a vital knock of 88 runs which gave solidity to the crumbling Baroda batting order. With Amarnath, Suresh Keshwala stood tall and scored a century that did not let the match slide away from Baroda’s control. Bombay got a lead of around 40 runs which was later capitalized on in the second innings. 

Ravi in a ravaging mood

In the second innings, Bombay suffered some early losses as they got reduced to 3/73. However, Ravi Shastri turned the tide in Bombay’s fever with a jaw-dropping display of batting. He smashed Baroda bowlers in every corner of the ground with Lalchand Rajput, who scored 136 runs, and Sunil Gavaskar having the best seat in the house. Ravi Shastri played like a lion desperate for the kill and his knock blew Baroda’s win out of the equation. Bombay scored 457 runs in the second innings at the loss of 7 wickets and gave a humongous target of 499 runs to the visitors. Baroda saved the match somehow in the second innings but this contest was all about Ravi Shastri’s heroics with the bat which is registered in the record books as the fastest double century in first-class cricket. 

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