World record: Bihar lad Sakibul Gani hits 341 on debut in Ranji Trophy

Bihar found itself under the spotlight on Friday when local lad Shakibul Gani (22) scripted cricketing history, hitting a triple century on first-class debut --- the first in the world to do so. In the Ranji Plate tie against Mizoram in Kolkata, he blazed 341 runs off 405 balls, eclipsing the previous record of MP’s Ajay Rohera (unbeaten 267 against Hyderabad in 2018).

Shakibul is the youngest of six children in the family. His mother, Asma Khatoon, told TOI she gifted him three new bats before he left home for Kolkata earlier this week. He said: "Amma, nazar utaar deen (bless these bats),” which Asma promptly did with a wisp of mustard seed smoke. The 341 was hit with one of these bats. Motihari is now abuzz with the laurels of Gani who has emerged as a hero despite a largely non-existent cricketing infrastructure in Bihar, carrying with him a tale of perseverance and family support in the face of odds. "Shakib’s elder brother Faisal too would have also played First Class cricket if the Bihar Cricket Association had not lost recognition," said Khatoon when TOI caught up with the proud family.

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Bihar youngster Sakibul Gani smashed an astounding 341 in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Mizoram here on Friday to break the world record for the highest individual score on first-class debut.

Shakibul is the youngest of six siblings in the family which lives in the Agarwa locality in Motihari. The Gani home is decorated with trophies and medallions. Shakibul’s father Mohammad Mannan Gani, who runs a sports goods shop close to the Badi Masjid near Meena Bazar, echoed his wife’s sentiments: "Faisal has been Shakib’s mentor." Faisal, a bowling