Published:
Hyderabad hold the record for the lowest completed innings total in Ranji Trophy history, having been bowled out for just 21 runs against Rajasthan during the 2010–11 season.
The extraordinary collapse took place in Jaipur on November 1, 2010, when young fast bowler Deepak Chahar made a memorable first-class debut. Chahar took eight wickets for just 10 runs, helping Rajasthan dismiss Hyderabad in 15.3 overs.
The innings remains one of the most remarkable collapses in the history of India’s premier domestic first-class cricket competition.
Hyderabad’s 21 all out against Rajasthan is the lowest completed team innings recorded in the Ranji Trophy.
The previous record belonged to Southern Punjab, who were dismissed for 22 against Northern India during the 1934–35 season.
Match details
Match: Rajasthan vs Hyderabad
Tournament: Ranji Trophy 2010–11
Date: November 1, 2010
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Hyderabad’s total: 21 all out
Overs faced: 15.3
Top scorer for Hyderabad: Akshath Reddy — 6 runs
Best bowler: Deepak Chahar — 8 wickets for 10 runs
No Hyderabad batter reached double figures, and three players were dismissed without scoring. The innings lasted approximately 78 minutes.
The match became a career-defining moment for Deepak Chahar, who was only 18 when he made his first-class debut for Rajasthan.
Chahar produced a devastating spell of 7.3 overs, including two maidens, conceding just 10 runs and taking eight wickets. Pankaj Singh claimed the remaining two wickets, completing Hyderabad’s collapse.
Chahar’s performance immediately placed him in the spotlight. Taking eight wickets in a first-class debut is an extraordinary achievement, particularly when it results in the lowest team total in a major domestic competition.
He later went on to represent India in international cricket, including One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
Historical records list the following among the lowest completed innings totals in the competition:
25 by Nagaland vs Uttarakhand (2022)27 by Manipur vs Meghalaya (2020)37 by Pondicherry vs Chattisgarh (2022)44 by Maharashtra vs Services (2020)46 by Haryana vs Himachal Pradesh (2022)These figures span several eras of Indian domestic cricket. Historical team names and competition structures reflect the periods in which those matches were played.
Rajasthan captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar elected to field, and the decision quickly paid off. Chahar struck early and continued taking wickets as Hyderabad struggled against Rajasthan’s bowling attack.
Akshath Reddy top-scored with six runs, but no other batter could build a substantial innings. Hyderabad were eventually dismissed for 21 in just 15.3 overs.
The bowling figures underline the scale of the collapse: Chahar conceded 10 runs while taking eight wickets, and Pankaj Singh took the other two wickets for 11 runs.
Rajasthan made the most of the advantage, finishing the first day in a commanding position with a substantial lead.
The Ranji Trophy has been a major pathway for Indian cricketers progressing to the international level. Its long history includes outstanding batting feats, exceptional bowling spells and dramatic team collapses.
Hyderabad’s 21 all out stands out because of both the extremely low total and the circumstances of Chahar’s debut. The innings also illustrates how quickly a first-class match can turn when a bowling attack exploits conditions and takes wickets in clusters.
The record is distinct from the lowest score in all Indian first-class cricket, which has its own historical entries. For the Ranji Trophy specifically, Hyderabad remain at the bottom of the completed-innings list.
Sportstar / The Hindu — What is the lowest team score in Ranji Trophy?
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/what-is-the-lowest-team-score-in-ranji-trophy/article71582784.ece
CricketArchive — Lowest Team Totals in Ranji Trophy.
https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Series/Ranji_Trophy/Team_Records/Lowest_Team_Total.html
CricketArchive — Rajasthan rout Hyderabad for lowest Ranji total (November 1, 2010).
https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/13/13276.html
The Indian Express — Out for 21: Hyderabad dismissed for lowest score in Ranji history.
https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/out-for-21-hyderabad-dismissed-for-lowest-score-in-ranji-history/
SportsLine.news will continue to cover the records, milestones and historic performances that have shaped Indian domestic cricket.
