CM Pema Khandu hails Techi Doria's record 160 in Ranji Trophy
Synopsis
Techi Doria scored 160 runs against Manipur in the Ranji Trophy, becoming the first Arunachal Pradesh cricketer to post a 150-plus innings in the tournament. Chief Minister Pema Khandu celebrated the landmark on X, calling it a history-scripting moment and urging young cricketers across the state to dream big.
Key Takeaways
Techi Doria scored 160 runs against Manipur in the Ranji Trophy , a record-breaking innings for Arunachal Pradesh.
He is the first cricketer from Arunachal Pradesh to score 150 or more runs in a single Ranji Trophy innings.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu publicly congratulated Doria on X on 29 October 2026 .
The Ranji Trophy is India's premier domestic first-class cricket competition, organised under the BCCI framework.
Cricket participation from northeastern Indian states has grown steadily over the past decade within the BCCI structure.
A batter from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh just rewrote his state's cricketing record books. Techi Doria smashed a magnificent 160 runs against Manipur in the Ranji Trophy, becoming the first cricketer from Arunachal Pradesh to breach the 150-run mark in a Ranji Trophy innings — and Chief Minister Pema Khandu made sure the nation took note.
Khandu took to X on Thursday, 29 October 2026, to congratulate Doria, calling the knock 'history-scripting' and expressing hope that 'his journey inspire more young cricketers from Arunachal Pradesh to dream big and excel.' The message was brief, but the milestone it saluted was anything but.
What Doria's 160 means for Arunachal cricket
The Ranji Trophy is India's premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, the arena where generations of state players have carved their names before stepping onto bigger stages. For the northeastern states, it has historically been a steep climb — talent has existed, but consistent individual landmarks at this level have been rare. Doria's 160 against Manipur is the kind of number that anchors itself in a state's sporting memory.
Cricket participation from northeastern India has grown steadily within the Board of Control for Cricket in India structure over the past decade, with states like Arunachal Pradesh fielding more competitive sides. A score of this magnitude from one of those states is precisely the kind of data point that accelerates that momentum.
The role of political visibility in grassroots sport
Chief ministers from smaller states have increasingly used social media to amplify individual sporting milestones — a deliberate strategy to stoke state pride and signal investment in athletes beyond mainstream sport hubs. When the state's top office personally names a domestic cricketer and calls his innings 'history,' it sends a message down to every young player training on a dusty ground in Itanagar or a small town in the Kameng hills: this state is watching, and it will celebrate you.
That visibility has a cost-free multiplier effect — no new stadium required, no policy announcement necessary. One post can move a young athlete's horizon.
Techi Doria's bat has already done the hard work. The question now is who from Arunachal Pradesh picks it up and swings next.
Point of View
A state that has historically operated in the shadow of larger cricketing centres, a record Ranji innings is not just a scoreboard entry — it is a proof-of-concept for the state's cricketing pipeline. The spotlight Khandu has trained on Doria also applies gentle pressure on administrators to invest in infrastructure that can replicate such performances. If the northeast's cricketing rise continues, this kind of milestone — and its political amplification — will become a template other states notice.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Techi Doria break in the Ranji Trophy?
Techi Doria became the first cricketer from Arunachal Pradesh to score 150 or more runs in a single Ranji Trophy innings, reaching 160 against Manipur.
Why did CM Pema Khandu congratulate Techi Doria?
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated Techi Doria for scripting cricketing history with a record-breaking innings of 160 in the Ranji Trophy and to inspire young cricketers across the state.
What is the Ranji Trophy?
The Ranji Trophy is India's premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, contested by state teams under the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and serves as the primary pathway for cricketers aspiring to play for India.
Is Arunachal Pradesh a regular participant in the Ranji Trophy?
Yes, Arunachal Pradesh participates in the Ranji Trophy as part of the BCCI's domestic cricket structure, and cricket participation from northeastern states has grown steadily over the past decade.
