Gujarat opener Samit Gohel creates world record for highest score by opener
Gujarat opener Samit Gohel has created a world record by hitting an unbeaten 359 runs in the quarter-final match of the Ranji Trophy, which is the highest score by an opener in the history of first-class cricket. Gujarat reached the semifinal on the basis of a superior first-innings score.
26-year-old Gohel failed to tackle the Odisha pacers in the first innings but scored runs when it mattered the most to take his team to the semi-finals of the tournament. Gohel, in the process, faced 723 deliveries and struck 45 fours and one shot over the fence.
He broke the record of Surrey batsman Bobby Abel, who scored 357 not out against Somerset at the Oval in 1989. Gohel also became the fourth triple-centurion in first-class cricket to carry his bat through the innings.
This is the second time that a Gujarat batsman has scored a triple century in this season with the previous one scored by Gohel’s opening partner Priyank Panchal, who has been in sensational form this season. Gohel also became the fifth batsman to score a triple-century this Ranji season.
Gohel gives credit to skipper Parthiv Patel for his success, and said, “I had to change the mindset. Earlier, I used to be iffy about playing my shots unless I got a 200 per cent boundary ball. Parthiv Bhai (Patel) played a huge role in changing things. He was always by my side, trying to nail in positivity. He always gave me the confidence and told me about the benefits of being positive. Confidence was the biggest factor in this change. The biggest positive is that I can rotate the strike more freely,” reported Indian Express.