Even in today’s fast-paced cricket where the trend demands batters to be explosive and hammer bowlers to all parts of the ground, a solid stance and conventional batting style is still considered paramount and given preference to mindless slogging. The best test of solidity and grit at the international level is Test cricket and Ranji Trophy, a first-class cricket championship played in India, provides players with a platform to showcase and hone their talents required for the longest format of the gentleman’s game. Ranji Trophy, which is named after the first Indian to play international cricket, Ranjitsinhji, was launched in July 1934. A total of 38 teams participates in this championship, while the round-robin matches are played for 4 days, the knockout matches are 5 days in length. Through this article, you will know about the Top 10 run-scorers in Ranji who truly are legends of first-class cricket.

1. Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer sits comfortably at the top of the list with 12038 runs. This prolific right-handed batsman started his Ranji career in 1996 playing for Mumbai before switching to Vidarbha in 2015, during the course scoring 40 centuries which in itself is a record. He also holds the record of playing the highest number of games in the Ranji Trophy. He debuted in international cricket in a home series against South Africa in 2000 and played his last Test match in 2008 against the same team. Following an illustrious domestic career spanning over two decades, he announced his retirement in March 2020.

2. Amol Anil Muzumdar

The stylish right-handed batsman who was once regarded as one of India’s finest cricketing prospects holds the second position on the list with a total of 9205 runs. He started his career with Mumbai, but in 2009 after not being selected in the Mumbai team for the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he moved to Assam. In 2012 he signed a two years contract with Andhra Pradesh. Despite his monstrous success at the domestic level, scoring at an average near 50, he was never given an opportunity to represent India at the international level.

3. Devendra Bundela

The third highest run-scorer in Ranji history hails from the historical town of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh. He debuted for his home state Ranji team in 1995 and played for the team till his retirement in 2018, scoring 9201 runs during the course. Bundela, popularly known as Bundi Bhai among cricketing circles was made the captain of Madhya Pradesh in 2010. The talented Devendra Bundela is another name in the long list of unfortunate cricketers who didn’t get a chance in the national team despite their sheer brilliance.

4. Yashpal Singh

The Delhi-born right-handed batsman who averaged over 60 after his first 44 matches started his domestic cricket career with Services. He scored two half-centuries in his debut match. In 2015 he decided to part ways from the Services putting an end to his glorious run of 15 years with the team. He currently plays for the Manipur cricket team. He has also played in the IPL for Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Kolkata Knight Riders. He stands at the fourth position in the list with a total of 8700 runs.

5. Mithun Manhas

Born in 1979, the right-handed batsman, who also bowls right-arm off the break and can keep wickets has scored 8554 runs in Ranji Trophy and is placed at the fifth position in the list of top run-scorers in the championship. He made his Ranji debut with Delhi and stayed with the team before moving to Jammu and Kashmir in 2015. He has also played in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils, in the fourth season of the league he was signed by the Pune Warriors before being picked up by Chennai Super Kings in 2014. Despite his excellent domestic records, he never made it into the national team, because of the presence of stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman in the Indian squad.

6. Paras Dogra

Paras Dogra, a right-handed batsman, and right-arm leg-break bowler made his domestic debut in 2001 for Himachal Pradesh and played for the team till 2017 before moving to Puducherry in 2018. With a total of 8114 runs, he is placed at sixth on our list. He also holds the record for the highest number of double centuries in the Ranji Trophy. The defensive right-handed batsman has also appeared in IPL playing for Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Gujrat Lions.

7. Hrishikesh Kanitkar

The left-handed batsman who debuted in 1994 for Maharastra has also played for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. When he retired in 2015, he had already amassed 8059 runs in Ranji Trophy. He had a brief stint in international cricket playing two test matches and a few ODIs for the Indian national team.

8. Naman Ojha

Naman Ojha, a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, born in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh made his Ranji debut for the Madhya Pradesh team in 2000 and scored a total of 7861 runs during his Ranji career before retiring in February 2021. He got his debut call for the national team during India’s 2010 tour of Zimbabwe when the senior players including regular wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni were rested. He represented Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2009 and was later picked up by Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad as well.

9. Subramaniam Badrinath

Badrinath a right-handed batsman and former Indian cricketer made his Ranji debut for Tamil Nadu in 2000 and stayed with the team till 2015 before moving to Vidharba. In 2008 he was signed by the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings and played a crucial role in Chennai’s 2011 IPL victory. His international appearance was rather brief in which he scored a half-century in his debut match against Australia. He scored a total of 7850 runs in Ranji Trophy before announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.

10. Faiz Fazal

The left-handed batsmen came into the limelight after he scored 151 runs in his debut Ranji match for Vidharba in 2003. He switched to Railways in 2009 but returned to Vidharba in 2012 after not getting to play a single game in the 2010-11 session. In 2016, he was selected for India’s tour of Zimbabwe where he scored 55 not out on his debut match. Under his captaincy, Vidarbha won its first Ranji Trophy title in 2018. He has also represented Rajasthan Royals in IPL in 2010 and 2011. This flamboyant left-handed batsman currently plays for Vidarbha and has scored a total of 7650 runs till now placing him in the tenth position on our list.