Mizoram’s Chinmay Sutar Reaches 400, Joins Rare First-Class Club

Chinmay Sutar was on 231 when Mizoram’s last batter, Lalrempuia Chhakchhuak, joined him. The pair added 189 runs for the final wicket, and Sutar finished unbeaten on 400 from 517 balls. Mizoram declared at 581 for nine against Nagaland in their Ranji Trophy match on Monday. The 29-year-old hit 46 fours and seven sixes. ^2,3

That 189-run stand took Sutar from a long innings into the record books. He became only the second Indian to score 400 in a first-class innings, after Bhausaheb Nimbalkar made 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in 1948. Sutar’s score is second on the Ranji Trophy list, ahead of Prithvi Shaw’s 379. Across first-class cricket, he is the 10th batter to reach 400. ^2,4

Second place matters because Sutar had little time to settle into his new team. He moved from Mumbai to Mizoram before this season after struggling to find chances in longer-format cricket, despite success in local limited-overs cricket. This was only his second Ranji match for Mizoram. In his first, against Manipur, he scored 35 and 99, then saw his side lose by three wickets. His huge innings now gives Mizoram a strong first-innings total. ^3,6

That total came after Mizoram had slipped to 391 for nine on the second day, with Sutar still needing a partner to keep the innings alive. Chhakchhuak stayed with him, and Sutar said he focused on adding runs for the team rather than chasing a personal mark. His 400 fell 43 short of Nimbalkar’s Ranji record of 443 not out. With Mizoram’s innings declared at 581 for nine, Nagaland must now take its turn at the crease. ^2,8