4 records broken by Anshul Kamboj in his 10-wicket-haul vs Kerala in Ranji Trophy 2024-25
Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj achieved the rarest of rare feats by picking up all 10 wickets in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Kerala in Lahli. The bowler had eight wickets in his tally at the end of Day 2, and managed to snare the remaining two scalps as well to finish with figures of 10-49 on Friday, November 15.
Kamboj had made the headlines not so long ago, when he recorded figures of 8-69 in the Duleep Trophy 2024 while playing for India C. Having made his debut in 2022, he has made 18 first-class appearances so far, claiming 47 wickets at an average of 28.23.
With his ability to stick to the optimal line and length, he promises to be the next big thing as far as the red-ball bowling pipeline is concerned. On that note, let us take a look at four records broken by Anshul Kamboj in his 10-wicket-haul vs Kerala in Ranji Trophy 2024-25.
#1 3rd bowler in Ranji Trophy history to take 10 wickets in an innings
It's not every day that you see a bowler picking up 10 wickets in a first-class encounter. The achievement is so rare that it has been witnessed only thrice in the Ranji Trophy's existence since 1934.
Kamboj became the first bowler in close to four decades to pick up all 10 wickets in an innings. He now occupies a list which bores the names of Premangsu Chatterjee and Pradeep Sunderam, who achieved the historic feat in 1956 and 1985 respectively.
This also makes Kamboj the first bowler to pick up 10 wickets in the Ranji Trophy in the 21st century. Six bowlers (Ankeet Chavan, Jalaj Saxena, Pheiroijam Jotin, Akash Pandey, and Ashish Zaidi) have managed to take nine wickets in a single Ranji Trophy innings over the last 25 years, but it was Anshul Kamboj who managed to go the last mile.
#2 2nd best figures in Ranji Trophy history
It is easy to overlook the fact that Kamboj conceded only 49 runs while bowling 30 overs in tough conditions because of the fact that he picked up 10 wickets. Since he was able to keep the runs in check along with picking up wickets, he is now the record holder of the second most economical 10-fer in Ranji Trophy history.
The record is held by Premansu Chatterjee, who conceded only 20 runs for his 10 wickets. Since Kamboj's effort was statistically better than Pradeep Sunderam, who gave away 78 runs, he occupies the second rank now.
#3 6th Indian bowler to pick up 10 wickets in an innings
Anshul Kamboj joins an elite list in Indian folklore as there have been only five other Indian bowlers who have taken all 10 wickets in an innings in first-class cricket.
Apart from the aforementioned set of names who achieved the feat in Ranji Trophy, there are three more Indian bowlers who bagged a 10-fer through other red-ball competitions.
Subash Gupte was the first Indian player to pick up 10 wickets in a first-class innings. The leg-spinner claimed figures of 10-78 in the clash between Bombay and Pakistan Combined Services and Bahawalpur XI. Anil Kumble famously replicated the feat during a Test match against Pakistan in 1999.
Debasish Mohanty's 10-46 in the Duleep Trophy clash between South Zone and East Zone is also one for the history books.
#4 Best bowling figures by a Haryana pacer
Kamboj became the first pacer from Haryana to bag all 10 ten wickets in an innings, which naturally makes him the record holder for the best bowling figures by a pacer from his state.
Former India pacer Joginder Sharma held the record previously. He recorded figures of 8-24 to skittle out Vidarbha for 57 in a Ranji Trophy encounter during the 2004-05 campaign.