Gujarat's triple centurion Samit Gohel's fascinating journey from ‘strokeless wonder’ to world record holder

Gujarat opener Samit Gohel on Tuesday entered his name in the cricket record books as he amassed a monumental 359 knock against Odisha in Ranji Trophy game and carried his bat through in the quarter-final encounter, being played in Jaipur. It is the the highest unbeaten score by an opening batsman in first-class cricket. 

Gohel went past Bobby Abel’s score of 357 that he made for Surrey against Somerset at the Oval in 1899. Gohel has also become the fourth triple centurion in the history of first-class cricket to carry his bat through the innings.

The rising star Gohel reached the towering score by hitting 45 fours and a six in 723 balls in Gujarat’s second inning of the match. 

Before the ongoing Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Odisha Gohel had a dismal strike rate of 36.01 in 27 First-Class matches. The 26-year-old Gujarat opener had talent in abundance and had a wide array of shots but confidence eluded him many times.

All of that changed when he came out of his shadow's to amass an unbeaten 359 run knock against Odisha in Ranji Trophy game.

Samit started as a middle-order batsman before becoming an opener at the U-23 level. Vijay Patel had a role in that. “Vijay sir was impressed with my technique and advised me to open,” said Samit.

“He used to defend even half-volleys during the early part of his innings. He could play all the shots but hardly used his full repertoire. He had a kind of mental block. I’m happy that he has managed to get over it,” Gujarat coach Vijay Patel told Indian Express on a day when Samit scored his maiden double hundred in First-Class cricket, hitting 33 fours and a six, at a strike rate of 47.02.