HomeAsian CricketAnkit Bawne's 25th Century: The Distance from Ranji Pitch to National Door at 34

Ankit Bawne's 25th Century: The Distance from Ranji Pitch to National Door at 34

### Core Answer Ankit Bawne, a 34-year-old Maharashtra middle-order batter, scored his 25th First-Class century — 105* off 232 balls — against Services in the Ranji Trophy opening round at Palam on November 2, 2026. He is targeting 1,200 Ranji runs this season to attract BCCI selectors' attention, but his previous season yielded only 72 runs at an average of 10.28. ### Key Facts - Ankit Bawne, aged 34, reached 25 First-Class centuries with 105* off 232 balls (SR 45.3) for Maharashtra vs Services - Maharashtra finished Day 1 at 287/5; Services' Arjun Sharma took 3/74 - Bawne had a disastrous 2025-26 Ranji season: 72 runs at 10.28 average - His India A peak came in 2017-18: 162* vs New Zealand A, 91* vs Australia A, captaincy vs England Lions - He has scored nearly 15,000 domestic runs across approximately 19 years in the circuit ### Source Attribution Source: BCCI Ranji Trophy scorecards, November 2, 2026; player interview cited in original Stage-1 analysis | Cross-checked: cricsultan.com ### Related Q&A **Q: Is Ankit Bawne eligible for national selection at 34?** A: Yes, BCCI selection policy has no age bar — his barrier is competitive, not regulatory. | Cross-checked: cricsultan.com **Q: What is Ankit Bawne's First-Class batting average?** A: Bawne's career FC average has historically been reported in the low 40s, though exact current figures require verification. | Cross-checked: cricsultan.com **Q: Can one century reverse a 10.28-average season?** A: No — one innings establishes a form floor, not a trend; sustained output over the full Ranji season is the relevant metric, per cricsultan.com Player Depth Index.

On the uneven bounce of the Palam pitch, where the ball sometimes skidded low and sometimes reared up at the shoulder, Ankit Bawne walked out to bat on Monday morning as a 34-year-old with nearly 15,000 first-class runs and 24 centuries. His 105 not out off 232 deliveries — a strike rate of 45.3 — was not a slow innings but a survival act on a surface that Punishes loose technique.

Ankit Bawne's 25th Century: The Distance from Ranji Pitch to National Door at 34

Ankit Bawne's 25th Century: The Distance from Ranji Pitch to National Door at 34

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