BB Nimbalkar, India's highest scorer in first-class cricket, passes away

Former Ranji Trophy cricketer BB Nimbalkar passed away today of age-related ailments at his Nagala Park residence in Kolhapur.

Nimbalkar was 93. His cremation will be held late in the day, family sources said.

The right-hand batsman still holds the record of highest individual score in Indian first-class cricket. Nimbalkar scored an unbeaten 443 runs for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy game at Pune in 1948-49.

He was often described as "the man who nearly beat Bradman" as, at that time, his knock was second only to the Australian legend's 452 not out as the highest first-class innings.

Nimbalkar was unable to break Bradman's record because, with the total standing at 826 for 4 at the lunch interval, the other side conceded the match.

That particular innings remains the fourth highest individual score in first-class cricket.

Later, Bradman sent a personal note to Nimbalkar saying he considered the Indian's innings better than his own.

Born on December 12, 1919, Nimbalkar played cricket for various teams like Baroda, Holkar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Railways.

An aggregate of 3,687 runs at a healthy average of 56.72 with 11 centuries marked him out as one of the outstanding batsmen in the Ranji Trophy.

Nimbalkar had 58 wickets in his domestic career which spanned from 1939-40 to 1964-65, and also kept wickets in some matches.

A prolific run-getter, Nimbalkar, in his 80-match first-class career, scored 4,577 runs at an average of 52.01 with 12 centuries.

Though he never represented India in an official Test, he played for the country once — against the first Commonwealth team in 1949-50, where he scored 48.