Cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has appointed Omkar Salvi as their new bowling coach for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Salvi, who guided Mumbai to Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy titles last season, brings a wealth of experience to the RCB camp.Salvi, the younger brother of former India player Avishkar Salvi, has worked as an assistant coach with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the past. He is expected to join RCB after the conclusion of the ongoing Ranji season, which resumes on January 23.In the meantime, Salvi will oversee Mumbai's campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. He is contracted with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) until March 2025.RCB has never won an IPL title despite participating in the tournament since its inception in 2008. The franchise will be hoping that Salvi's expertise can help them break their title drought.Salvi's appointment is a significant move for RCB, as they look to strengthen their bowling attack. The franchise has a talented group of bowlers, including Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, and Wanindu Hasaranga. Salvi's guidance will be crucial in helping them reach their full potential.Salvi's experience and success at the domestic level make him a valuable addition to the RCB coaching staff. He will be working alongside head coach Sanjay Bangar and batting coach Sridharan Sriram.RCB will be hoping that Salvi's appointment can help them finally lift the IPL trophy. The franchise has a strong squad on paper, and they will be confident of making a deep run in the tournament.

Mumbai's Siddesh Lad and Angkrish Raghuvanshi guided their team to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Services in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match in New Delhi. Resuming on 24 for one, Mumbai chased down the target of 135 in just 35.4 overs.Lad remained unbeaten on 73, hitting eight fours and two sixes, while Raghuvanshi contributed an unbeaten 55 with six boundaries. The duo shared an unbroken 128-run partnership for the second wicket, ensuring Mumbai's dominance.This victory keeps Mumbai in third place in the group standings with 22 points, behind Baroda and Jammu and Kashmir. Services remain in fifth place with 13 points.In another Ranji Trophy Group B match, Gujarat managed to salvage a draw against Vidarbha despite the latter posting a formidable total of 545-9. Vidarbha's innings was highlighted by three centuries from Danish Malewar (115), Karun Nair (123), and Akshay Wadkar (114 not out).Gujarat responded with a strong batting performance, led by Het Patel's 77. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to build substantial partnerships. With time running out, the two teams agreed to a draw.Vidarbha remains atop the Group B table, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Mumbai's 17-year-old prodigy Ayush Mhatre continues to impress, scoring a commanding second first-class century against Services in the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match. His 116 off 149 balls, studded with 12 boundaries and three sixes, gave Mumbai a 13-run lead.Mhatre's rise has been meteoric. Earlier this season, he showcased his talent with a marathon innings of 176 against Maharashtra. His consistent performances have established him as a key player in Mumbai's batting lineup, and now, with his U-19 selection, he is on the cusp of greater opportunities.Mumbai's innings began on a shaky note in their response to Services' total of 240. However, Mhatre anchored the innings, combining aggression with composure. He found valuable support from Shreyas Iyer, who contributed 47 off 46 balls. Together, they stitched a crucial 109-run partnership in just 104 balls, helping Mumbai regain their footing.Meanwhile, Mumbai's pace bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur delivered an impressive performance, taking four wickets to wrap up Services' innings. Thakur, overlooked by the national selectors for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, showcased his grit with figures of 4 for 46 in 19 overs.Mhatre's performance has also caught the attention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) giants Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He has been approached by CSK for IPL trials and has expressed his interest in playing alongside legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni."Yes, I got a call from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) talent scout team for the trials a few days back. I think I will go for the trials, but right now, my focus is on red-ball cricket. Since this is the last match of the first half of the Ranji Trophy season, I want to finish it on a high note," Mhatre said."I can't say if I will be picked in the auction, but yes if I get a chance to play in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, I will try to be productive for the franchise. Playing alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni is every youngster's dream and it will be a dream come true for me. I haven't met him yet, but let's see what happens," he added.Mhatre's rise is a testament to his talent and hard work. He is a player to watch out for in the future, and his potential is limitless.

Mumbai, the defending Ranji Trophy champions, will face Services in Palam on Wednesday, aiming for their third outright victory of the 2024-25 season. With only eight points separating the top five teams in Group A, Mumbai, currently third behind Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir, recognizes the importance of a win before the campaign pauses for white-ball tournaments.Services, currently fourth in the standings, also has aspirations of challenging for a knockout spot. After defeats to Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir in the second and third rounds, they bounced back with a 35-run victory over Maharashtra last week. "We had lost the previous two games. So to beat Maharashtra was very important. We won a close contest and on their turf. For any team, that is bound to give confidence," said Services coach Rajesh Tiwari.Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, displayed its dominance in the previous round, crushing Odisha by an innings and 103 runs. The victory was built on a 354-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad, the highest fourth-wicket partnership for the 42-time winner. Iyer plundered a 228-ball 233 while Lad contributed 169 off 337 balls.Iyer's continued good form, as evidenced by his century against Maharashtra, suggests he is eager to reclaim his place in India's Test plans. Services captain Rajat Paliwal acknowledges the challenge ahead against Mumbai's formidable batting lineup. "The wickets in matches here have been taken by medium-pacers as well as spinners. Batters have also scored runs. There will be help for everyone from this surface," Paliwal said.

Chennai Super Kings Eye 17-Year-Old Mumbai Opener Ayush Mhatre for IPL 2025 Mega AuctionFive-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are reportedly targeting a promising young batter for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise has invited Mumbai's 17-year-old opener Ayush Mhatre for a selection trial before the auction.Mhatre has caught the attention of CSK's talent scouts and none other than legendary India and CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The youngster has impressed with his performances for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.In his first-class debut for Mumbai in the Irani Cup game against Rest of India, Mhatre opened the batting alongside Prithvi Shaw and scored 19 and 14 runs in the two innings respectively. In the Ranji Trophy, he has made 321 runs in five games at an average of 35.66, including one century and one half-century.Mhatre's impressive century came against Maharashtra, where he scored a brilliant 176. His consistent performances have not gone unnoticed by CSK, who are keen on adding him to their squad for the next IPL season.CSK Managing Director and CEO Kasi Viswanathan has requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to allow Mhatre to attend a trial at their CSKHPC Navalur grounds. The trial will take place after the end of the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy 2024 season (on November 16) and before the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.CSK will enter the mega auction with a purse of Rs 55 crore, having retained Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and Dhoni. If they choose to buy Mhatre, the youngster could emerge as an option at the top of the order, alongside captain Gaikwad.Mhatre's inclusion in the CSK squad would add depth to their batting lineup and provide them with a long-term option for the opening slot. The youngster's talent and potential have impressed Dhoni and the CSK management, and he could be a valuable addition to the franchise in the upcoming IPL season.

Haryana's Yashvardhan Dalal etched his name into the record books with an extraordinary batting performance in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy encounter against Mumbai. The 22-year-old opener smashed an unbeaten quadruple century, amassing a staggering 426 runs, to establish a new tournament record.Dalal's marathon innings, which included 46 fours and 12 sixes, propelled Haryana to a commanding position in the match. Batting first after Mumbai's decision to field, Dalal and Arsh Ranga forged a formidable opening partnership of 410 runs. Ranga contributed 151 before being dismissed by Atharva Bhosale, but Dalal continued his relentless assault on the Mumbai bowlers.The right-handed batsman displayed exceptional strokeplay, punishing loose deliveries with boundaries and clearing the ropes with ease. His aggressive approach kept the Mumbai bowlers on the back foot throughout the second day's play.Dalal's record-breaking knock surpassed the previous highest individual score in the tournament, which was held by Uttar Pradesh's Sameer Rizvi (312). The Haryana opener's monumental innings helped his team reach an imposing total of 732 for eight wickets at the close of play on Day 2.Mumbai's bowlers struggled to contain Dalal's onslaught, with only Bhosale managing to break through the Haryana batsman's defenses. The Mumbai team now faces an uphill task in the remaining days of the match, as they trail Haryana by a significant margin.Dalal's remarkable achievement is a testament to his exceptional talent and determination. The young batsman has been in impressive form this season, and his quadruple century is a fitting reward for his hard work and dedication.

Mumbai's bold strategy of fielding only four specialist bowlers in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Odisha paid off handsomely as the bowling quartet delivered a dominant performance, putting Mumbai on the cusp of earning a bonus point.On Friday, the bowling group led by left-arm spinner Shams Mulani and Himanshu Singh restricted Odisha to 285 in their first innings, adding only 139 runs to their overnight tally. Mulani, who returned with a six-wicket haul, ran through the visitor's lower order, while Himanshu chipped in with three wickets.After skipper Ajinkya Rahane enforced the follow-on, the spin duo of Mulani and Himanshu continued to torment Odisha, reducing them to 126 for five at stumps. Had Aashirwad Swain not edged Himanshu to Rahane in the slips off the last ball of the day, Odisha may have hoped to bat out the final day.The quartet, especially Mulani and Himanshu, toiled tirelessly on day three. Of the 87.3 overs bowled, they accounted for 57.3 overs and shared nine of the 10 wickets that fell.Despite being tonked for three sixes in two overs in the morning session, including one that helped Sandeep Pattanaik celebrate his fifth First-Class hundred, Mulani made a strong comeback. Once Pattanaik played onto the stumps, the left-arm spinner raced to his 15th five-wicket haul.If substitute wicketkeeper Sidhaant Addhatrao, who donned the gloves for an unwell Hardik Tamore, had not dropped a thick edge off Debabrata Pradhan's blade to deprive Shardul Thakur a wicket early on, Mumbai would have fancied their chances of wrapping up the game with a day to spare.

Mumbai's batters put on a dominant display in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Odisha, posting a mammoth total of 602 for four before their bowlers tightened the noose around the visitors' neck.Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad were the stars of the show for Mumbai, forging a record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership of 354 runs. Iyer, known for his aggressive batting, smashed 24 fours and nine sixes in his innings of 233, while Lad played a more patient role, contributing 169 not out with 17 fours.The duo's partnership was the highest fourth-wicket stand for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, surpassing the previous record of 336 set by Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar in 2006. It also marked the first time that two Mumbai batters had scored double centuries in the same innings of a Ranji Trophy match.Mumbai's innings was further boosted by a cameo from Suryansh Shedge, who smashed 79 not out off just 36 balls, including seven fours and six sixes. The declaration came 20 minutes after lunch, with Mumbai's total standing at an imposing 602 for four.Odisha's bowlers struggled to contain Mumbai's onslaught, with only Himanshu Singh extracting some bounce and turn from the pitch. Singh picked up two wickets, while Suryakant Samantray and Debabrata Pradhan claimed one each.In response, Odisha's openers Anurag Sarangi and Swastik Samal made a steady start, putting on 39 runs for the first wicket. However, Shardul Thakur broke the partnership by dismissing Samal for a duck.Sarangi and Govinda Poddar then added 39 runs for the second wicket before Himanshu struck again, trapping Sarangi lbw for 39. The dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, as Mumbai picked up three wickets for two runs in 16 balls.Odisha's innings was eventually halted at 146 for five, with Sandeep Pattanaik (73 not out) providing some resistance. The onus will be on Pattanaik to stretch the innings on the third morning and wear out Mumbai's four specialist bowlers as much as possible.

Tanush Kotian, a lanky all-rounder from Mumbai's Vikhroli suburb, has emerged as a rising star in Indian cricket. His journey has been marked by challenges and triumphs, shaping him into a determined and versatile player.Kotian's passion for cricket began at a young age, influenced by his father, a legend in tennis-ball cricket. Initially a pacer, he gradually developed a fondness for spin bowling. His talent was evident early on, as he helped Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy in 2023.However, a setback occurred in 2022 when Kotian's bowling action was deemed "suspect" during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite never being reported in any domestic game, this incident raised doubts about his future.Undeterred, Kotian used this episode as motivation to prove his worth. He worked tirelessly to refine his action and regain his confidence. His determination paid off when he was selected for India-A's shadow tour of Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Kotian's versatility as a batting and bowling all-rounder has been a subject of debate. He believes in developing both aspects of his game equally, aiming to be a complete cricketer. This approach has been influenced by his coaches, who have emphasized the importance of thinking like a batter while bowling and vice versa.Kotian's success has not come without sacrifices. He spends countless hours away from home, honing his skills and pursuing his dream. His father's unwavering support has been a constant source of encouragement.In the 2024 Ranji Trophy, Kotian played a pivotal role in Mumbai's victory, earning the Player of the Tournament award. His impressive performance, including 502 runs and 29 wickets, catapulted him into national reckoning.Kotian's journey is a testament to his resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in his abilities. As he continues to navigate the challenges of professional cricket, he remains focused on achieving his ultimate goal of representing India at the highest level.