The call that mattered most after Chinmay Sutar’s historic 400 in the Ranji Trophy

After the runs, the milestone and the history came the tears. But for Chinmay Sutar, the most important moment of the day that changed his cricketing life had nothing to do with the record books. It was a call to his father Rajesh.

While Sutar was unbeaten on 400 for Mizoram against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group on Monday, he became only the second Indian batsman to score a quadruple century in first-class cricket. But when the game was over, it wasn’t the numbers that occupied his mind. She was the person who stood by him through the disappointments that preceded them.

“The first person I called after the game was my father. It was a big milestone and I wanted to share it with my dad first,” Sutar told PTI from Sovima in Nagaland.

“He was a big supporter of mine from an early age.

POOR FATHER SUPPORT

The emotion was understandable. For a cricketer whose journey has been marked by missed opportunities, this achievement was more than a remarkable innings. It was a moment of vindication, shared first with the person who urged him to keep believing when the chances he wanted didn’t come.

Having played seven first-class matches for Mumbai, Rajesh understood the demands of the game. More importantly, he remained a constant source of support as his son struggled to find opportunities in his home state.

“He stayed by my side whenever I missed a chance to play and advised me to stay strong and believe in my abilities,” Sutar said.

“And now comes a big moment in my career. I thought he should be the first person I talk to.”

DIFFICULT CAREER DECISION

For Sutara, 29, the journey to 400 was not just about turning a good start into a monumental score. It was also about refusing to let a lack of opportunity dictate the course of his career.

The right-hander featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai but his ambitions extended beyond limited-overs cricket. He wanted to play red-ball cricket and when regular opportunities were hard to come by, he took the tough decision to move to Mizoram.

“Obviously it was a tough decision for me. But I always wanted to play red-ball cricket. I didn’t get such chances in Mumbai,” he said.

“So when I got a chance to play for Mizoram, I didn’t want to give up the opportunity to play red-ball matches. So I took it.”

The move eventually led him to a moment few batsmen have ever experienced. Sutar finished unbeaten on 400 off 517 balls, hitting 46 fours and seven sixes as Mizoram declared at 581 for nine.

Only Bhausahab Babasaheb Nimbalkar of Maharashtra, who scored 443 not out against Kathiawar in 1948, had previously surpassed 400 in first-class cricket for India.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE AGES

Still, Sutara’s landmark could remain out of reach without an extraordinary partnership with the final goal. Joined by Lalrempuia Chhakchhuak, Sutar batted on 231 and Mizoram reached 392. The pair added an unbeaten 189 runs, with Chhakchhuak contributing 14 off 76 balls and Sutar scoring a 169-run partnership.

Sutar quickly recognized the importance of his partner’s composure.

“He was batting really well, without any nerves,” he said, explaining that the pair focused on smaller goals rather than chasing a specific milestone. Their approach kept the innings moving and allowed historic scores to emerge naturally.

THE WORK IS NOT DONE

For all the personal significance of the achievement, Sutar was equally appreciative of the environment he found in Mizoram and praised the work ethic of his teammates and their desire to improve.

However, the quadruple century did not end his immediate duties. With Mizoram looking to get full points, Sutar knows the job remains unfinished.

The next challenge is to dump Nagaland cheaply and force a follow-on.

But whatever happens in the match, Monday will remain a defining day in Sutar’s career. He made history with his bat, found a partner when he needed him most, and when it was finally time to celebrate, he reached for the phone.

The record belonged to Chinmay Sutar. The first call belonged to his father.

– The end