Sachin Tendulkar played the Ranji Trophy from 1988 till his retirement in 2013 and he has been involved in only one loss in his entire playing career.
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Sachin Tendulkar has amassed plenty of records in his cricketing career. The most international runs in both ODIs and Tests belong to him. His feat of being the only batsman to score 100 international centuries might never be broken. Tendulkar has the most centuries in Tests and ODIs. It is no surprise that Sachin Tendulkar is the ultimate gold-standard when it comes to batting in cricket, maybe on par with Sir Donald Bradman. His international records are well documented. But, his Ranji Trophy records are simply staggering.
Sachin Tendulkar‘s Ranji Trophy career spanned 25 years from 1988 to 2013. In 38 matches, Tendulkar has scored 4281 runs at a whopping average of 87.36 with 18 centuries and 19 fifties. His best year was the 1994/95 season in which he hit 856 runs at an average of 122 with five centuries. His best score in the Ranji Trophy came in 1999/2000 season when he hit an unbeaten 233 in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu.
However, not many be aware of this stat. Tendulkar suffered only one loss in his entire 25-year career in the Ranji Trophy. Out of the 38 matches, he has won 23 matches for Mumbai with 14 draws. Tendulkar has been part of five Ranji Trophy title wins for Bombay/Mumbai but his one loss was the most heartbreaking.
O May 7, 1991, Tendulkar suffered his first and only loss in the Ranji Trophy final. In the final at the Wankhede stadium against Haryana, Bombay were on the backfoot. Haryana made 522 and Bombay was bowled out for 410. In the second innings, Bombay restricted Haryana to 242. Bombay needed 355 for a win.
Tendulkar blasted a magnificent 96 off 75 balls in a spectacular exhibition of clean hitting. He shared a partnership of over 100 with Dilip Vengsarkar. However, he hit a low full toss to extra cover to miss out on his ton. Bombay lost by two runs, with Vengsarkar unbeaten on 139. In the fourth innings, Tendulkar averaged a brilliant 134. That loss in 1991 remained the only defeat in Tendulkar’s playing career.
