Cricket

Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-rounder, is set to make his return to domestic cricket in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's premier T20 tournament. Pandya will join his brother, Krunal Pandya, who will captain the Baroda team.Baroda finished as runners-up in last year's edition of the tournament and will be looking to go one step further this time around. They have been placed in Group B alongside Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Saurashtra, Karnataka, and Sikkim.Under Krunal Pandya's leadership, Baroda has made a strong start to the domestic season. They currently top the standings in Group A of the Elite Division, with four wins and a loss from five matches.Hardik Pandya last played for India in the T20I series against South Africa, where he had modest returns of 59 runs and two wickets. He will be hoping to regain his form and fitness ahead of the upcoming international assignments.The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will get underway on November 23rd, and the final will be played on December 11th.

Baroda's historic victory over Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy has sparked a wave of jubilation within the team and its supporters. The last time Baroda defeated Mumbai in this prestigious tournament was in 1998-99, a match that featured a remarkable nine-wicket haul by Yogendra Wakaskar.Wakaskar, now a member of the senior selection panel, was present at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium on Monday morning, witnessing the triumph that brought back fond memories. He was joined by chief selector Prayan Dave and Umang Patel, who were equally thrilled with the team's performance under the leadership of Krunal Pandya.The celebrations extended to the Baroda dressing room, where head coach Mukund Parmar expressed his delight at being involved in his first win against Mumbai. Parmar, a former Gujarat stalwart, refrained from viewing the victory as revenge for last year's quarterfinal exit in Mumbai."It's not revenge and all. What's past is past," Parmar said. "It obviously gives a huge fillip to the confidence of the bunch to have started the season by beating the defending Ranji and Irani champion and the domestic giant in a convincing manner. Our skill-sets have never been in question. I am delighted with the manner in which the boys bounced back when put under pressure."Mumbai had opportunities to tighten their grip on the match in both of Baroda's batting innings. Baroda managed to post a respectable 290 on a turner after being reduced to 90 for five in the first innings. In the second innings, they rallied from 41 for six to add 144 runs for the last four wickets, effectively taking the game away from Mumbai."We created opportunities but the 130-run partnership in the first innings (between Mitesh Patel and Atit Sheth) turned out to be decisive. Baroda obviously played better cricket than us overall. I just hope it's a learning lesson for our spinners. I am confident we will continue to improve as a team," said Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane.Baroda's victory is a testament to their resilience and determination. They have shown that they can compete with the best in Indian domestic cricket and will be a force to reckon with in the upcoming season.

Bhargav Bhatt's exceptional bowling performance propelled Baroda to a rare Ranji Trophy victory over defending champions Mumbai on Monday. The left-arm spinner's 18th five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket proved decisive as Baroda secured an 84-run triumph at the Vadodara International Cricket Academy.Baroda had only defeated Mumbai four times in their 66 previous encounters, with their last win coming in 1998-99. History repeated itself as Bhatt's 6/55 dismantled Mumbai's batting lineup.At the start of the final day, Mumbai needed 220 runs with eight wickets in hand to chase down a target of 262. However, the deteriorating pitch made their task challenging. Captain Ajinkya Rahane's early dismissal by Bhatt set the tone for Mumbai's collapse.Bhatt continued to torment the Mumbai batters, trapping opener Ayush Mhatre and then removing Shreyas Iyer, who had attempted to counterattack. The Mumbai allrounder trio of Shams Mulani, Shardul Thakur, and Tanush Kotian fell without resistance, leaving only Siddhesh Lad to offer any resistance.Lad, returning to the Mumbai team after four and a half years, scored a solid fifty. However, Bhatt's relentless bowling proved too much for him, as he accepted a return catch to end the match.Baroda's victory was a testament to Bhatt's exceptional bowling skills. The 26-year-old spinner has now taken 10 wickets in a match against Mumbai for the second consecutive time.

The festive spirit of Navratri extended to the outskirts of Vadodara as Baroda dominated the second day of their Ranji Trophy opener against defending champions Mumbai. The lower order added a crucial 49 runs to help Baroda post 290 runs on a turning track at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium. The bowling unit, led by veteran left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt, then dismissed Mumbai for 214, securing a handy 76-run lead.Baroda's captain, Krunal Pandya, and coach's tactics proved effective as they shared the new ball with left-arm spin duo Bhargav Bhatt. Krunal dismissed Prithvi Shaw, while Ranji debutant Ayush Mhatre and Hardik Tamore saw off the morning session. Mhatre impressed with his inside-out lofted drive and ability to rotate strike. However, after reaching his maiden fifty, he miscued a pull shot, ending his promising innings.Mumbai's batting collapsed as they lost three wickets for one run in 18 balls. Tamore, Rahane, and Shreyas Iyer departed, leaving Mumbai reeling at 141 for five. Left-arm pacer Akash Singh then restricted Mumbai's lower order. He bowled a yorker that Siddhesh Lad played onto his stumps and an inswinger that rattled Tanush Kotian's stumps. Akash fittingly ended the innings by forcing Shardul Thakur to whip one to deep midwicket.Baroda's top-order must rectify their mistakes from the first innings to increase their chances of an outright win against Mumbai. The day belonged to the home team, who celebrated the last day of the Navratri festival.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has consistently proven to be a breeding ground for exceptional cricketing talent in India. This season, the spotlight has shone brightly on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Swapnil Singh and Lucknow Super Giants' Deepak Hooda, both of whom have faced significant challenges in their domestic careers.Swapnil and Hooda, who represent Baroda in domestic cricket, have reportedly endured numerous issues within the team, particularly with skipper Krunal Pandya. Hooda's struggles with the captain have been well-documented in the Indian cricketing fraternity.However, the duo's impressive performances in the IPL have caught the attention of fans and former players alike. A social media user recently expressed gratitude to former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan for his support during their cricketing crisis at Baroda."Thank you so much @IrfanPathan saab, for helping players like Deepak Hooda and Swapnil Singh who were facing so many problems in Baroda cricket team because of their Captain - Krunal Pandya. The fans of Indian Cricket will not forget your contributions," the fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).Pathan responded to the post, acknowledging the players' hard work and determination. "They were working hard when no one was watching. It's their positive attitude and persistence took them where they are," he said.This season, Swapnil has emerged as a reliable bowler for RCB, claiming 6 wickets in 6 matches while also contributing as a handy lower-order batter. Hooda, on the other hand, had a slow start to the 17th edition of the IPL but has since found his rhythm, scoring 145 runs in 9 innings at an average of 18.13.Pathan's role as a mentor and guide in Indian cricket has been instrumental in the development of young players. He has consistently provided support and guidance to emerging cricketers, helping them unlock their true potential.

The Ranji Trophy quarterfinals are set to begin across India from Friday, with eight teams vying for a spot in the semifinals. Among the contenders are familiar faces like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as well as giant-killers Vidarbha and Baroda.Mumbai, the 41-time champions, will face Baroda in a depleted state, missing key players like Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. However, they will be bolstered by the inclusion of U-19 World Cup star Musheer Khan. Mumbai will rely on their in-form opener Bhupen Lalwani and key weapon Mohit Avasthi to lead their charge.Vidarbha, the only team apart from Mumbai to have recorded five wins in the group stage, will take on a formidable Karnataka side. Vidarbha will miss the services of seasoned campaigner Faiz Fazal, but they will be confident playing in their backyard. Skipper Akshay Wadkar, Dhruv Shorey, and former Karnataka batter Karun Nair will be key for Vidarbha, while Aditya Sarwate and Aditya Thakare will handle the bowling responsibilities.Karnataka, who finished second in Group C behind Tamil Nadu, will feel the absence of Devdutt Padikkal, but they have capable batsmen like Manish Pandey and Sharath Srinivas. Pacer Vysakh Vijaykumar's all-round brilliance will also be a crucial factor for Karnataka.Saurashtra, led by Cheteshwar Pujara, will be confident against Tamil Nadu, who have made it to the Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time in six years. Pujara has been in prolific form this season, amassing 780 runs, while skipper Arpit Vasavada and Prerak Mankad have also contributed with the bat. Saurashtra's Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is in contention for the most wickets this season, with 39 scalps.Tamil Nadu, who finished second behind Vidarbha in Group A, will rely on Narayan Jagadeesan and Baba Indrajith for runs. Spinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram have been their key wicket-takers.At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, hosts Madhya Pradesh will face a dangerous Andhra side, who are coming off a three-match unbeaten run. Ricky Bhui has been the season's best performer with the bat, while Hanuma Vihari has also made vital contributions. Andhra finished second behind Mumbai in Group B, indicating their form and confidence.Madhya Pradesh, the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy winner, have been unbeaten this season. Venkatesh Iyer and Kumar Kartikeya have been their standout performers.With so much talent on display, the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals promise to be an exciting and closely contested affair.