Priyanshu Moliya, 21, hits 321 not out to break Baroda's Ranji record
By Aarav DeshpandeSports Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: PDPics / Pixabay
Priyanshu Moliya, 21, made 321 not out against Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 2026, Baroda's highest first-class score, as they reached 616.
What Happened
Priyanshu Moliya, a 21-year-old batter, made an unbeaten 321 for Baroda against Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy at Vadodara on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the second day of the Elite Group A match. His innings, off 492 balls with 36 fours and one six, took Baroda to 616 all out in their first innings. It is now the highest individual first-class score by a Baroda batter, passing the 319 that Gul Mohammad made against Holkar in 1947.
Key Facts
- Match: Baroda vs Jammu and Kashmir, Ranji Trophy 2026-27, Elite Group A, at Vadodara, scheduled for October 26 to 29, 2026.
- Moliya's score: 321 not out off 492 balls, with 36 fours and one six.
- Baroda's first-innings total: 616 all out, after resuming the second day at 259 for 6.
- On the first day, Baroda had slipped to 197 for 6 before Moliya, unbeaten on 113 off 220 balls at stumps, led the recovery.
- He and Mahesh Pithiya added 232 runs for the seventh wicket, according to match reports.
- Moliya is the second Baroda batter to score a first-class triple century, after Gul Mohammad, and is among the youngest Indians to reach the mark.
Why It Matters
People searching "Priyanshu Moliya" this week are looking at one of the standout performances of the early Ranji Trophy season. A triple century is rare in Indian first-class cricket, and rarer still for a batter of 21. Moliya came in with his side in trouble at 197 for 6 against Jammu and Kashmir, the defending champions, and batted across two days to turn a weak position into a total of 616. For a young player, the length of the innings (492 balls) says as much as the number: it shows the patience and fitness selectors look for in long-format cricket.
The record itself has history. Gul Mohammad's 319 for Baroda against Holkar dates to 1947, so the Baroda mark had stood for close to eight decades. Moliya had already shown form this season: in Baroda's earlier group match against Bihar at Vadodara, from October 18 to 20, he made 132. Two big innings in successive rounds put his name in front of the people who pick India A and Duleep Trophy squads, which are the next steps for domestic batters hoping to move up.
For young cricketers following the domestic game, the innings is also a reminder of how careers are built in India: through long seasons of first-class cricket for a state side, where runs against strong attacks count most. The Ranji Trophy remains the main route to India's Test team, and selectors watch scores against top sides such as Jammu and Kashmir closely.
The table below shows how his innings grew across the two days.
| Stage | Baroda score | Moliya |
|---|---|---|
| Low point on day one | 197 for 6 | building his innings |
| Stumps, day one (October 26) | 259 for 6 | 113 not out off 220 balls |
| End of innings, day two (October 27) | 616 all out | 321 not out off 492 balls |
Impact
Short-term: Baroda's total of 616 puts them in a strong position in the match, with Jammu and Kashmir needing a long innings of their own to stay in the game over the remaining two days.
Long-term: A Baroda record and a triple century at 21 make Moliya a name to watch for India A and other higher-level squads, if he keeps scoring through the season.
Who is affected: Baroda and Jammu and Kashmir in the Group A table, young domestic batters competing for the same openings, and selectors building India's next generation of Test players.
Key Takeaway
Priyanshu Moliya's unbeaten 321 at 21 broke a Baroda first-class batting record that had stood since 1947 and lifted his side from 197 for 6 to 616.
Questions and Answers
What did Priyanshu Moliya score in the Ranji Trophy?
Priyanshu Moliya made 321 not out off 492 balls, with 36 fours and one six, for Baroda against Jammu and Kashmir at Vadodara, finishing on October 27, 2026, the second day of the match.
Which record did Priyanshu Moliya break?
His 321 is the highest individual first-class score by a Baroda batter. It passed Gul Mohammad's 319 against Holkar, made in 1947, and made Moliya the second Baroda batter to score a first-class triple century.
How old is Priyanshu Moliya?
He is 21, which places him among the youngest Indian batters to score a first-class triple century, according to match reports.
What was the state of the match when he came in?
Baroda were struggling at 197 for 6 on the first day against Jammu and Kashmir, the defending champions. Moliya's innings, including a 232-run seventh-wicket stand with Mahesh Pithiya, carried them to 616.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Aarav Deshpande, Sports CorrespondentCovers Sports and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Aarav Deshpande
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Aarav Deshpande is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
