Tanmay Agarwal: The Hyderabadi batted his way into the record books with fastest triple century

The icing on Tanmay’s cake came a few days later when Hyderabad won the Plate title — an achievement that also earned the team a promotion to the main division of the Ranji Trophy next season. He ended the 2023-24 season with a massive 765-run tally (average 96.62) in seven matches, with the help of three centuries and one half-century.

Hyderabad had been demoted to the Plate division after an abysmal performance in the Ranji Trophy last season, ironically led by Tanmay, who was in fine form (562 runs at 43.23 in seven matches). Tanmay’s world record knock and the team’s promotion will, to an extent, wipe out the forgettable 2022-23 Ranji Trophy outing for Hyderabad, captained by Gahlaut Rahul Singh.

Tanmay spoke to South First exclusively after establishing the world record for the fastest triple century in first-class cricket.

Also Read: Hyderabad senior women’s cricket coach suspended amid allegations of misconduct

Excerpts:

Q: At what point did you know that you had scored the fastest triple century in first-class cricket?

A: After I reached the dressing room [after completing the triple century] on the first day of the match.

Q: What was your first reaction?

A: Nothing much. I was grateful. That’s it. I was very normal, okay. Even if you ask any of my teammates, they will tell you I was pretty much okay. When I score centuries, I don’t celebrate; I just put my bat up [to acknowledge appreciation].

Q: Did you feel particularly good at the start of the game against Arunachal Pradesh because you scored a century as well in the previous match against Sikkim?

A: It was not that big a factor. Your previous knock gives you a little confidence, but it was not a big factor. I was batting like that — confidently. It was just one of those days when I was just very confident. I was hitting the ball very well. I was leaving the ball very well. I was reading the ball from the bowlers’ hands really well that day.

Q: So, was confidence the only reason?

A: It happens to every batsman. Some days are really good, and some days, on a flat wicket, you don’t read the ball well. On some days, on a very bad wicket, you read the ball really well — and I feel it just happened to be one of those days for me.

Q: Was the first 100 runs the first milestone that you targeted?

A: Yeah.

Q: Then you reached 200 off 219 balls — still quite brisk innings until then. How was the journey between the 100 and the 200?

A: I just wanted to play. The double hundred and all these things just happened because I was hitting the ball very well. I feel days when you see and hit the ball very well come rarely to you. The only satisfaction was that I was at the wicket, playing and enjoying — so I just wanted to continue with that. And then it just happened. After reaching 100, I started batting a little more aggressively. Things happened, that’s it.

Q: What messages came out from the coach from the dressing room?

A: Basically, we were trying to put up a total so that the lead should be a little big so that we didn’t have to bat again [after having bowled Arunachal Pradesh out for 172 in their first innings], probably until the first drinks on the second day and then declare the innings. Luckily, we were able to execute that plan.

Q: Since both your centuries — against Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh — came on the same ground, the NextGen ground, was it helpful?

A: Yeah, I have played at NextGen before — we have played our practice games for one-dayers there. So, I am familiar with that ground and wicket. So, I think that also helped me.

Q: About your scoring areas. Of your 366 runs, 120 were on the offside, and you scored 246 on the onside — more than double the runs scored on the offside. Any specific reason for this?

A: In parts of the onside, I am a little stronger. Maybe…just… I don’t know.

Q: Which particular area do you enjoy most scoring in? And which is your most confident shot on the onside?

A: I think I get a lot of runs while pulling the ball and hitting that pickup shot in the square-leg and mid-wicket areas. I like to hit the ball there, and I get a lot of runs in that region.

Q: Were there any celebrations after the match?

A: Nothing much. We — the family — just went out for dinner. That’s it. We would have gone for dinner, but that event happened that day.

Q: How was this season fitness-wise?

A: I think this season was good fitness-wise. But mentally, it is not that challenging, so I am also working on my mental aspect. Hopefully, I’ll be able to know the right outcome when I play next year.

Q: You started your first-class career well in 2014-15 with 558 runs, a tally that comprised three centuries and one half-century. How would you sum up your career (nine seasons) so far?

A: It has been a great experience, to be very honest. I am grateful that I chose this field because cricket is a sport that teaches you everything — you see failures, you see success. There are ups and downs. So, I’m glad my parents have put me into this and backed me from the beginning.

It is a new day. Whenever you play or go onto the field, you cannot carry forward the previous day’s performance or failure to the next day. Altogether, you have more chances. You just give your best every day, which is a great learning opportunity for me. This sport has taught me a lot.

Q: Everyone gets wiser with age. You are 28 now. Where do you see yourself standing now in your career?

A: You are right — as you grow old, you get experience. I don’t see myself anywhere. Obviously, playing a higher grade in cricket is the goal, but that goal is lighter. I don’t put pressure on myself by always telling myself that ‘I have to play at this level’ or ‘at the next level’. I am just focusing on getting better at the areas I want to improve and have fun. That’s it. I am not putting any pressure on myself to go somewhere or to play at the next level. It will happen if it is meant to; if it does not, I’m okay. It’s the effort that I’m counting on; the effort is on what I’m focusing on right now.

Q: Although you say that you don’t expect anything from yourself, are you open to batting at some other slot [other than opening the innings] if given an opportunity at a higher level?

A: Hundred percent. If given an opportunity, I would definitely bat anywhere.

Q: You got married in July 2021. How much of a change did marriage bring to your game?

A: I am still experiencing it (laughs). So, I can’t come to a conclusion. I am happy to get married.

Q: You come from a business family in Hyderabad. But you chose cricket when you could have easily entered your family business. How big was that decision — to choose cricket as a career?

A: Basically, it was a decision taken by my father and my uncle. My whole family is a huge cricket fan. My brother, my two cousins, and I, the four of us, started playing cricket at a very young age. Two of us opted to pursue academics, and my cousin, Himalay [a former first-class cricketer], and I continued to play. More than me and my cousin wanting it, my father and uncle pushed us into the cricket field. We started liking the game and would go to the ground every day to play. It then became a daily routine, and cricket became my passion.

(The writer, based in New Delhi, has covered cricket for over three decades. He tweets at @AlwaysCricket)