Most runs in First-class Cricket without getting dismissed: Know the select players

One ball is all it takes to get a batter out in cricket. However, there have been instances when batters have resisted getting out courtesy of their laser-like focus and concentration.

Though seven batters in the history of first-class cricket have managed to score over 600 runs or more without getting dismissed, no one quite comes near the record of India’s KC Ibrahim, who holds the record of scoring the most runs in first-class cricket without getting out.

KC Ibrahim is the only batter to have scored over 700 runs in first-class cricket without getting dismissed. He tops the list that includes legends like Don Bradman, Brian Lara and VVS Laxman. This list also has modern-day batters such as India’s Sarfaraz Khan, England’s Sam Northeast and Tom Bruce of New Zealand.

Most runs in first-class cricket without getting out

KC Ibrahim (India)

KC Ibrahim made his first-class debut in 1938-39 for Bombay in Ranji Trophy and was known as an attacking batter who put the opposition bowlers under the pump. 

However, the form of KC Ibrahim’s life arrived in the 1947-48 first-class season. He smashed four unbeaten knocks of 218, 36, 234 and 77 followed by 144 for a total of 709 without getting out.

His four unbeaten knocks came for KC Ibrahim’s XI against Madan Raiji’s XI and MK Mantri’s XI before the Ranji 1947-48 season began. KC Ibrahim was finally dismissed in the first match of the Ranji 1947-48 season against Sindh but not before he laid the platform for a big win for Bombay against Sindh with 144. 

KC Ibrahim played a total of 60 first-class matches and scored 4,716 runs at an average of 61.24 with 14 centuries. He played four Test matches for India before migrating to Pakistan in 1950. 

Graeme Hick (England)

Graeme Hick played first class in England from 1983 to 2008. Playing for Worcestershire in the 1990 season, Graeme Hick scored 645 runs before getting out in his fifth inning. Hick scored 171, 69 against Somerset and 252, 100 against Glamorgan. He was dismissed in the first inning against Derbyshire on 53. Graeme Hick played 120 One-Day International (ODI) matches and 65 Test matches for England.

Vijay Merchant (India)

Regarded as one of India’s finest first-class cricketers, Vijay Merchant features third on the list of most runs scored by a batter without getting out.  In the 1941/42 season, Vijay Merchant scored 634 runs across three innings. His 170 not out came against Nawanagar in Ranji before scoring 243 against Muslims playing for Hindus. He was dismissed on 221 against Parsees.