Batting style Right-handed Name B. Nimbalkar 1941–1950 Maharashtra | 1939–1940 Baroda Bowling style Right-arm medium Role Cricket Bowler | |
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Full name Bhausaheb Babasaheb Nimbalkar Born 12 December 1919 Kolhapur, Maharashtra, British India Relations R. B. Nimbalkar (brother), S. B. Nimbalkar (son) Died December 11, 2012, Kolhapur | ||
Bhausaheb Babasaheb Nimbalkar (12 December 1919 – 11 December 2012), usually known as B. B. Nimbalkar, was an Indian cricketer, best known for his score of 443 not out during the 1948–49 Ranji Trophy, which remains the highest score, and the only quadruple century, in Indian first-class cricket. His score remains the highest by a cricketer not to have played in Test Cricket.
Nimbalkar was born in Kolhapur. He had his early education at the Model School in Kolhapur, and captained the school team at the age of 15. He made his Ranji Trophy debut in 1939 against Baroda. His older brother, Raosaheb Nimbalkar, also regularly played first-class cricket, and often appeared alongside him in matches. Despite an impressive batting average of 56.72 in Ranji Trophy matches, and his additional abilities as a wicket-keeper and a fast-medium bowler, Nimbalkar never played Test cricket during a first-class career that stretched from 1939–40 to 1964–65.
During the 1948–49 Ranji Trophy, playing for Maharashtra against Kathiawar at Pune, Nimbalkar made 443 not out, at the time second only to Don Bradman's 452 not out as the record first-class innings and currently fourth-highest of all-time. He was unable to break the record because, with the total standing at 826 for 4 at the lunch interval, the opposing captain, the Thakore Saheb of Rajkot, conceded the match to prevent embarrassment on the part of his team. However, Bradman sent a personal note to Nimbalkar saying that he considered Nimbalkar's innings better than his own.
Nimbalkar died in December 2012, aged 92. His son, Suryaji Nimbalkar, also played for both Railways and Maharashtra.