Arothe hits ton before game begins

When Tushar Arothe takes field against Mumbai tomorrow he will become the first Baroda cricketer, and the 11th in the country, to play 100 R...

When Tushar Arothe takes field against Mumbai tomorrow he will become the first Baroda cricketer, and the 11th in the country, to play 100 Ranji Trophy games. ‘‘It’s a great feeling, obviously a great achievement, and I’m looking forward to it,’’ said Arothe.

Only Anshuman Gaekwad has played more Ranji matches (95) than him in Baroda, the record being held by Rajinder Gohil (122) who played for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Arothe has so far scored 5,575 runs at 39.54 in the Ranji Trophy and taken 198 wickets at 20.23.

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But the 36-year-old cricketer who has been playing the game constantly for nearly 20 years — in English county cricket between Ranji seasons — is not contemplating retirement.

‘‘I was looking forward to my 100th game this season, and now I want to play more than the record 122.

“It may take a couple of seasons more, but that’s the aim,’’ said the all-rounder for whom the Baroda Cricket Association has planned a felicitation before the Ranji semi-final gets underway at the GSFC ground here on Friday.

‘‘I always give my 100 percent, I don’t want anybody ever to say I’m in the team on charity,’’ he said.

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