Chinmay Sutar: The Mumbai Reject Who Rewrote Ranji Trophy History with 400-Run Knock
Chinmay Sutar: The Mumbai Reject Who Rewrote Ranji Trophy History with a 400-Run Masterclass
At 29, Chinmay Sutar was a forgotten name in Mumbai’s crowded cricket circuit. A former India U-23 player, he had spent years grinding in club cricket, battling illness, and watching others overtake him. Then, on October 19, 2026, the right-hander produced one of the greatest innings in the history of first-class cricket, smashing an unbeaten 400 for Mizoram against Nagaland. In doing so, he became only the second Indian after Bhausaheb Nimbalkar to score a quadruple century in the Ranji Trophy, ending a 78-year wait. Here is the complete story of his journey.
Chinmay Sutar acknowledges the crowd after his historic 400* for Mizoram against Nagaland.
Early Life, Childhood & Schooling
Chinmay Sutar was born on May 3, 1997, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Cricket was in his blood from the very beginning. His father, Rajesh Sutar, was a first-class cricketer who had once opened the batting alongside the great Sachin Tendulkar. From the age of five, Chinmay would hold a bat and watch his father play, developing a deep love for the game. “I have been watching my dad play cricket since childhood. Seeing him, I always felt that I should also play,” he recalled in a 2025 interview.Source: Bhaskar English
His schooling years were spent in Mumbai, where he started playing school cricket before progressing to age-group cricket (Under-14, Under-16) and eventually A-division club cricket. It was during his U-14 days that he truly understood what professional cricket entailed. His father became his coach and his biggest guide, helping him navigate every challenge, both on and off the field.Source: Bhaskar English
The Setback: Illness at 15
At the age of 15, Chinmay’s promising career hit a major roadblock. A serious illness kept him away from cricket for 10 to 11 months. The period was mentally gruelling. “That time was very sensitive for me mentally. During that illness, I could not play cricket for almost 10 to 11 months. It is extremely difficult for a player to stay away from the field for such a long time, but I did not give up and kept myself mentally strong,” he revealed.Source: Bhaskar English
His father remained his pillar of strength during this difficult phase, helping him regain his fitness and confidence. Once he returned, Chinmay was determined to make up for lost time, throwing himself into the gruelling world of Mumbai club cricket.Source: SportsDigest
Club Cricket & The Golden Ticket
Chinmay built his reputation through Mumbai’s fiercely competitive club cricket scene. In 2017, representing Sind Sports Club, he smashed 146 off 137 balls in the Purshottam Shield. He followed it up with another century in the Police Shield and a blistering 127 off 81 balls for Reliance Energy in the Times Shield, his third century in three weeks.Source: SportsDigest
His performances earned him a spot in India’s Emerging Team for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where he made his List A debut against Nepal. He also captained Mumbai’s U-23 side.Source: News18
In 2022, his career took a major step forward when he won the “Golden Ticket” in an all-India talent hunt conducted by Omtex ICWC Cricket Institute in association with the Delhi Bulls (Abu Dhabi T10 League). Along with Harsh Desai, he was chosen from a tough selection process to train and tour with the Delhi Bulls, coached by Andy Flower and playing alongside Dwayne Bravo.Source: CricketGraph
The Move to Mizoram & The 400-Run Knock
Despite his talent, a consistent run in Mumbai’s star-studded Ranji team eluded him. In June 2026, he won the Orange Cap in the Mumbai T20 League, scoring 212 runs at a strike rate of 120. Still, the Ranji call didn’t come. So, ahead of the 2026-27 season, he made a bold decision: he obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association and moved to Mizoram.Source: Lokmat Times
“I wanted to play first-class cricket wherever it was, irrespective of the level. Mizoram called me for trials, and it worked. It was a tough decision, but it had to be done,” Sutar said.Source: ESPNcricinfo
He made his Ranji Trophy debut against Manipur, scoring 35 and 99 (run out). Then came the Nagaland match in Sovima. Walking in at No. 3 in the eighth over, Sutar batted for over five sessions. He finished unbeaten on 400 off 517 balls, with 46 fours and 7 sixes. Mizoram declared on 581/9. His last-wicket partnership with Lalrempuia Chhakchhuak added an unbroken 189 runs, with Sutar doing almost all the scoring.Source: Wisden
📊 The Records He Broke
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| 2nd Highest Score in Ranji History | 400* (behind Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s 443* in 1948) |
| 2nd Indian to Score 400 in First-Class Cricket | Joins Nimbalkar in an exclusive club |
| 10th Batter in First-Class History to Score 400 | Joins Brian Lara, Don Bradman, Hanif Mohammad, Graeme Hick |
| First Player to Convert Maiden FC Century into 400 | Previous best was Sakibul Gani’s 341 |
| Highest Score by a Mizoram Batter | Surpassed all previous records |
🗣️ Expert Reactions & Analysis
🗣️ Senior Journalist’s Verdict – A Lesson in Perseverance
My Take: Chinmay Sutar’s 400 Is a Victory for Every Forgotten Cricketer
In Mumbai’s maidan culture, thousands of talented cricketers fade away without ever getting a proper chance. Chinmay Sutar could have been one of them. He was a promising U-23 captain, a Golden Ticket winner, a consistent club performer. But the Mumbai Ranji cap never came. At 29, most players would have given up or settled for a life outside cricket.
Sutar chose a different path. He moved to Mizoram, a team in the Plate League, far from the glitz of the Elite division. It was a gamble. If he had failed, no one would have noticed. But he didn’t fail. He scored 99 on debut, then followed it with an unbeaten 400. That innings was not just about talent; it was about the years of grind, the illness he overcame at 15, the disappointment of being overlooked, and the unwavering support of his father.
His 400 is now the second-highest score in Ranji Trophy history, behind a record that has stood for 78 years. He is now in the company of Brian Lara, Don Bradman, and Hanif Mohammad. For a player who hadn’t even scored a first-class century before this season, that is an astonishing achievement.
This innings should serve as a reminder to selectors and fans alike: talent is not always found in the big cities or the glamorous teams. Sometimes, it is grinding away in the Plate League, waiting for one chance to prove the world wrong. Chinmay Sutar got that chance, and he grabbed it with both hands.
— CricLive Editorial Team
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who is Chinmay Sutar?
Chinmay Sutar is an Indian cricketer born on May 3, 1997, in Mumbai. He represents Mizoram in domestic cricket and recently scored an unbeaten 400 in the Ranji Trophy.
2. How many balls did Chinmay Sutar face for his 400?
He faced 517 balls, hitting 46 fours and 7 sixes, during his innings against Nagaland in Sovima.
3. Is Chinmay Sutar’s 400 the highest score in Ranji Trophy history?
No. It is the second-highest, behind Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s 443* for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in 1948.
4. Why did Chinmay Sutar leave Mumbai?
He moved to Mizoram to get regular first-class opportunities, as he was unable to break into Mumbai’s star-studded Ranji team.
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