An unbeaten 321!
Priyanshu Moliya reached a landmark that most batters can only dream of, having batted his way to a triple century against Jammu and Kashmir in a Ranji Trophy fixture on Tuesday.
For the Baroda youngster, whose rise through the junior ranks has been marked by consistent performances, it was a moment to savour, and a significant step in a journey that began at Mohinder Amarnath’s academy years back.
The Indian cricket legend played a part in Moliya’s formative years, helping him learn the nuances of batting. Years later, the lessons remain with him. So does a simple philosophy that served him well through a long innings.
“I focus on playing one ball at a time. I don’t think about the future. I just play one ball at a time,” the 21-year-old told Sportstar.
Moliya did not approach his innings thinking about a triple century. His priority was to build partnerships and take his team to a strong position. “When the match started, I was trying my best to build partnerships with the batters at the other end and take the team to a strong position. I just kept batting and building those partnerships,” he said.
He finished the first day with 113 runs. A conversation with the head coach, R. Prasanna, on Tuesday morning reinforced the need to keep going.
“Today, I spoke to the head coach, who told me to keep going and do as much as I could to take the team to a good position. My target was to keep batting, and gradually, I got to 300,” he said.
For a batter who has consistently delivered at the junior level, the innings was another marker of his progress. Moliya made his Ranji Trophy debut for Baroda in 2022, having spent his formative years training at Amarnath’s academy.
Priyanshu Moliya was a part of the Indian team at the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 in South Africa.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Priyanshu Moliya was a part of the Indian team at the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 in South Africa.
| Photo Credit:
AP
When Moliya was 13, he scored 556 not out in an Under-14 tournament in Vadodara. He faced 319 balls, struck 98 fours and a six, and offered an early glimpse of a talent that would go on to make its mark in Baroda cricket.
His father, Suresh, had moved from Rajkot to Vadodara to ensure his son could pursue cricket seriously. At the Mohinder Lala Amarnath Cricket Academy, Moliya went on to score 1,100 and 1,500 runs in consecutive seasons. The runs came in abundance, but so did the lessons.
“Jimmy (Amarnath) sir was very supportive. He used to help me practise and would visit the academy whenever he came to Baroda. He guided me on how to bat and was a great source of support in the initial stages of my career,” Moliya said, adding: “However, the academy shut down because of COVID-19…”
The advice he received from Amarnath, a key member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, was uncomplicated, but it left a lasting impression.
“He told me to keep working hard, improve my game and raise my standards.”
Moliya believes adapting to senior cricket is part of the process. Having played in the Ranji Trophy three years ago, he was not entirely new to the demands of the format.
“As far as senior cricket is concerned, I played the Ranji Trophy three years ago, so I have some experience at this level. It is not very different. There are good players in the team, and you learn to adapt quickly.”
The triple century also brought an opportunity to acknowledge those who had supported him through the years. For Moliya, the dedication was never in doubt.
“First of all, I want to dedicate this triple century to my family. They have supported me a lot over the years and made many sacrifices for me. I would like to dedicate it to them,” he said.
He is not setting himself elaborate targets after the landmark. “I am focusing on one match at a time and on making the most of what I have today.”
When he walked out to bat, little did Moliya know that he would end up scoring the highest individual score in First-Class cricket for Baroda. But now that he has reached the milestone, the youngster wants to remain calm, stay in the present and keep scoring runs.
Published on Oct 27, 2026
