Chinmay Sutar's 400: Mizoram star whose father hit Shane Warne

Mizoram batter Chinmay Sutar's unbeaten 400 against Nagaland last week was only the second quadruple century in the Ranji Trophy's 92-year history. In an interview with IndiaToday.in published on Sunday, October 25, he described how the innings unfolded and the family story behind it.

From relief to a record

Sutar, 29, said reaching 100 was his biggest relief, because he had been out for 99 on his first-class debut in the previous match. After that he simply wanted to make it a big score, and said he never thought about 200, 250 or 300 along the way.

He added 168 runs with No. 6 Jehu Anderson before a lower-order collapse left Mizoram nine down. With last man Lalrempuia Chhakchhuak, he then put on a last-wicket stand of around 190, among the highest for the final wicket in Ranji Trophy history.

Sutar said that at about 350 for 8 he wanted the team to get past 450, which he felt was needed on that pitch to secure first-innings points. He kept telling his partners to build small stands of 20 or 25. Only near 380 did he realise what was happening, as the dressing room cheered and the opposition talked about the milestone.

Mizoram declared at 581 once he reached 400, and he walked off to a standing ovation from both sides.

Company in the record books

The only higher Ranji Trophy score is B.B. Nimbalkar's 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in 1948-49. Sutar's innings was also only the second first-class quadruple hundred since Brian Lara's 400 not out against England in 2004.

The Warne story

His first call after play was to his father, Rajesh Sutar, known in Mumbai cricket in the 1990s for big hitting. Rajesh played seven Ranji Trophy matches and 30 List A games for Mumbai.

His best-known innings came in 1998, in a tour game for Mumbai against Steve Waugh's Australians. Batting with Sachin Tendulkar, he joined an assault on Shane Warne. The pair added 97 runs in 15 overs; Rajesh made 45 off 43 balls with six fours, and Tendulkar finished unbeaten on 204.

Roots

Chinmay was born in Mulund and spent his early childhood in Chinchani, a coastal town in Palghar district where his father grew up. His uncle and grandfather also played, and he said there was never pressure to follow his father, only a love of being around the game.