Anshul Kamboj created history in an Elite Group C fixture between Haryana and Kerala. The 23-year-old fast bowler picked up all 10 wickets in an innings and became only the sixth Indian to achieve this feat in first-class cricket.
In fact, he is only the third player in the history of Ranji Trophy cricket to pick all 10 wickets in an innings. Playing for Haryana, Kamboj returned with staggering figures of 10/49 which came off 30.1 overs. His spell included nine maidens as well. The Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium in Lahli was the venue that witnessed history.
This is the first time in the 21st century that a bowler has taken 10 wickets in an innings in Ranji Trophy. The previous two instances were that of Bengal left-arm seamer Premangsu Chatterjee who was the first one to achieve the landmark in 1956-57 and Rajasthan pacer Pradeep Sunderam scaled the feat in 1985-86.
Kamboj is overall the 6th Indian to take 10 wickets in an innings in first-class cricket. Subhash Gupte, Anil Kumble and Debasis Mohanty are the others who have achieved this unique feat. Kumble is the only Indian to do it in a Test match. It was against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999 when he took 10/74 to bowl India to victory.
Leg-spinner Subhash Gupte took 10/78 against Pakistan Combined Services and Bahawalpur XI while playing for Bombay in 1954-55. Meanwhile, Mohanty returned with figures of 10/46 while playing for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy against South Zone in 2001.
Anshul Kamboj already taking giant strides in his short career
Kamboj has been highly impressive in the recent past. The Haryana fast bowler made his debut across formats in the 2022-23 season but he is taking giant strides already. He returned with figures of 8/69 in a Duleep Trophy game earlier in the season. Playing for India C, he dismissed some experienced players like Narayan Jagadeesan, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan and Rinku Singh in that innings.
He was superb in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season and starred in Haryana’s title-winning campaign. Kamboj picked up 17 wickets in 10 outings at an economy rate of 3.58. His performance of 3/33 for India ‘A’ against Pakistan Shaheens earned him the player of the match in the recent ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
The Karnal-born pacer also made his IPL debut earlier this year. He was picked up by Mumbai Indians and featured in three games, taking two wickets.
Before the 10-wicket haul, Kamboj has 47 wickets at an average of 28.23 in his first-class career. He has played 15 List ‘A’ and 15 T20s in his short career so far and has taken 23 and 17 wickets respectively in the two formats.
INDIANS WITH 10 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS
- Subhash Gupte – 10/78: Bombay vs Pakistan Combined Services and Bahawalpur XI (1954/55)
- Premangshu Chatterjee – 10/20: Bengal v Assam – Ranji Trophy (1955/56)
- Pradeep Sundaram – 10/78: Rajasthan v Vidarbha – Ranji Trophy (1985/86)
- Anil Kumble – 10/74: India vs Pakistan – Test match (1999)
- Debashish Mohanty – 10/46: East Zone vs South Zone – Duleep Trophy (2000/01)
- Anshul Kamboj – 10/49: Haryana vs Kerala – Ranji Trophy (2024/25)
