Cricket

Mumbai's dominance continued in the Ranji Trophy final as they piled up a mammoth 537-run lead over Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. U19 star Musheer Khan's century and Shreyas Iyer's half-century were the cornerstones of Mumbai's imposing total of 418.Resuming on 141/2, Mumbai lost skipper Ajinkya Rahane early for 73, but Musheer and Iyer steadied the innings. Iyer, in particular, played aggressively, reaching his half-century in just 62 balls. The duo put on a 168-run partnership before Iyer fell for 95.Musheer continued to anchor the innings, reaching his second first-class century in 255 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 136, but Shams Mulani's unbeaten 50 ensured Mumbai reached a formidable total.Harsh Dubey was the pick of the bowlers for Vidarbha, taking 5/144, while Yash Thakur claimed 3/79.Chasing a daunting target of 538, Vidarbha openers Atharva Taide and Dhruv Shorey negotiated the remaining overs without losing a wicket, leaving them with a mountain to climb on the final day.

Ravichandran Ashwin Highlights Ajinkya Rahane's Batting Technique in Ranji Trophy FinalIndian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns about Ajinkya Rahane's batting technique during the ongoing Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Vidarbha. Rahane survived a close LBW appeal when a delivery from Umesh Yadav seamed back and hit his pads. Replays showed that the decision would have been umpire's call, but Ashwin believes Rahane's head position and footwork contributed to his discomfort."We have to talk about Ajinkya Rahane's head position," Ashwin wrote on Instagram. "When the head falls over, it becomes difficult to play deliveries that cut in. When your head falls over, the delivery that seams in will always trouble you. Ajinkya will have to be wary of that."Former Bengal cricketer Joydeep Mukherjee also noticed that Rahane's foot position indicated he was expecting the ball to come straight to his bat. "The foot pointing towards mid-off tells me that he was playing for the ball going straight and not jagging back otherwise it would be a lot straighter," Mukherjee said.Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer was in fine form for Mumbai, scoring 95 off 111 balls. His celebration after reaching his half-century went viral on social media. Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was in attendance during the match, providing motivation for Iyer to find his form.

Mumbai's dominance over Vidarbha continued on the second day of their Ranji Trophy encounter, as they extended their lead to a commanding 260 runs. Resuming on 31 for 3, Vidarbha's hopes of a competitive total were dashed by a disciplined Mumbai bowling attack.Dhawal Kulkarni, in his final Ranji Trophy appearance, led the charge with three wickets, including the crucial scalp of in-form Atharva Taide. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian shared six wickets between them, as Vidarbha were bundled out for a paltry 105 in just 45.3 overs.In response, Mumbai's openers Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani fell cheaply, leaving Ajinkya Rahane and Musheer Khan at the crease. The duo initially struggled against the Vidarbha bowlers, but gradually found their rhythm.Rahane, in particular, showed signs of improvement after a difficult season. He played a series of elegant shots, including a trademark flick through midwicket and a superb square drive, to reach his second half-century of the campaign.Musheer Khan provided solid support, scoring an unbeaten 51. Together, they put on an unbroken 107-run partnership to guide Mumbai to 141 for 2 at stumps.With three full days remaining, Mumbai are in a commanding position. Rahane's return to form and the team's overall dominance will give them confidence as they look to secure a victory and keep their Ranji Trophy hopes alive.

Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur has expressed confidence in Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer's ability to regain their form, despite their recent struggles. Rahane and Iyer both failed to score in Mumbai's first innings against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final, but Thakur believes they will bounce back."Ajinkya is not scoring runs throughout the season. He is not in the greatest of the forms. We cannot blame him as it is just a phase for him where he is not getting runs," Thakur said. "It's just a rough patch for them. That's what I would say (about) Shreyas (and) Ajinkya. These guys have been absolute match-winners for Mumbai and India."Thakur urged everyone to support the seasoned pros in their down phase. "Right now, it's not their time; it's time to support them rather than criticising them because it's easy to criticise," Thakur said.Rahane has so far made just 141 runs from eight matches at an average of 12.81 with a solitary fifty. Shreyas, on the other hand, has not been regular for Mumbai this season owing to his national commitments but his return to the domestic circuit has been far from impressive -- 58 runs from three games at an average of 19.33 with a highest of 48.However, Thakur said both Rahane and Shreyas have shown the right attitude on the field, something he believed should work as a pointer to the younger Mumbai players. "Ajinkya has not scored runs but his attitude on the fielding is top notch. A lot of youngsters coming from U-23 and U-19 cricket in Mumbai don't have the attitude that he has. You see him in the slips, even if he is fielded for 80 overs, he will sprint (to) save (those) four runs," Thakur said."Shreyas moves around the field like a tiger. He absolutely gives everything that he has on the field. Both of them are role models when they are in the dressing room," Thakur added.Thakur was disappointed that some of the upcoming batters failed to rise to the occasion as significant as a Ranji Trophy final. "The other batters...we collectively felt that they should have shown a better approach. Starting from Bhupen Lalwani because he survived the first two or three balls in that over (in which he was dismissed) and still chasing that wide one on the fourth delivery, is not on," he said.Thakur minced no words when he said that players will have to put the team first. "They have to learn quickly because (the) Mumbai dressing room is not about (your) own self. When you play here, you play for the team. You have to keep your individual scores, your own game aside."When you score 20-25 or 30 runs, the next runs are for the team. They have to learn about it."The 32-year-old said the Mumbai batting unit will have to regroup in the second innings. "We just need to regroup as a batting unit. There are going to be tough days as a batting unit. Probably, we will just have a meeting and decide collectively how are you going to put a big score on the board from the first three or four wickets," he noted.Thakur rescued Mumbai from a wobbly 111 for six with a counter-punching 75 off 69 balls, an innings that bore similarity to his hundred against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy semifinals a few days back. "I love to play in tough situations and tough conditions. The kind of life that I have lived travelling far from Palghar to Mumbai with the kit bag on the train, you know it was not easy. That has toughened me up," he said.Veteran pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who will retire after the final, replaced injured Mohit Avasthi in the 11 for the title clash, and Thakur said it was emotional to see his old mate turning up for Mumbai one last time. "Today morning it was confirmed that he is playing. It was going to be his last game. It was an extremely emotional moment for him."It's an emotional moment for me also because I have watched him since childhood. When I did not have money to buy shoes, he gave me a few pairs of shoes," Thakur recalled.Vidarbha's Harsh Dubey, whose three-wicket haul included Rahane, said he had dreamt of dismissing the experienced batter. "I enjoyed dismissing Rahane. I had thought before the game that I would dismiss him. I was determined to do it and it was one of my best dismissals in Ranji Trophy," Dubey said."I tried to get him to drive since the ball was coming off slower at that length and I was successful in what I had planned," he added.

Veteran pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who had announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the end of the season, was unexpectedly called upon to play his 96th and final match for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha.Kulkarni, who had played only three matches and taken seven wickets this season, had been primarily serving as a mentor to the team's other seamers. However, with Mohit Avasthi ruled out due to injury, Kulkarni was given a chance to lead Mumbai's bowling attack.On the first day of the final, Kulkarni made an immediate impact, dismissing Aman Mokhade and Karun Nair in an incisive spell. He continued his impressive performance on Day 2, taking the wicket of Atharva Taide to give Mumbai their first breakthrough.Kulkarni's performance was a testament to his experience and skill, and he was given a guard of honor by his Mumbai teammates on the first day of the final. The Indian cricket board's domestic handle shared a video of the moment on Twitter.Kulkarni's final first-class match was a fitting end to a successful career. He has been a key member of the Mumbai team for many years, and his contributions have helped them win numerous titles. He will be remembered as one of the most successful bowlers in Indian domestic cricket.

Mumbai's Shardul Thakur Rescues Team in Ranji Trophy Final OpenerMumbai's Shardul Thakur once again proved his batting prowess, rescuing his team from a precarious position on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium.After Vidarbha's bowlers, Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey, had reduced Mumbai to 104 for 5, Shardul stepped up with a blistering 37-ball half-century. His innings, which included 10 fours and 2 sixes, helped Mumbai reach a respectable total of 224.Shardul's knock was crucial as Mumbai's middle order had collapsed either side of lunch. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer both fell cheaply for 7 each. However, Shardul's partnership with Sarfaraz Khan (37) and Shams Mulani (25) steadied the innings.When Shardul was eventually dismissed for 75 off 69 balls, Mumbai were still in a precarious position. However, Umesh Yadav's quickfire 20 helped them add valuable runs to their total.In reply, Vidarbha lost three early wickets to Shardul and Dhawal Kulkarni, who was playing his farewell game. Atharva Taide (21*) and nightwatchman Aditya Thakare (0*) will resume batting on day two with Vidarbha trailing by 193 runs.

Tushar Deshpande, the Mumbai pacer, has set his sights on earning an India call-up after a string of impressive performances across formats. The 27-year-old has been a key strike bowler for Mumbai since making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2016-17, and his recent performances have caught the attention of national selectors.Deshpande's breakthrough season came in 2023, when he finished as the Chennai Super Kings' highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His ability to consistently clock speeds of 140-plus and take crucial wickets has made him a valuable asset for both Mumbai and the Super Kings.In the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, Deshpande has once again been in top form. He has taken three wickets in the first innings and scored a crucial 26 in the second innings, helping Mumbai to a strong position."I think I am ready for an India call-up," Deshpande said ahead of the Ranji final. "If you look at the overall season, be it one-dayers (Vijay Hazare Trophy) or Ranji, I have been delivering with crucial wickets – and useful runs too."Deshpande's performances have not gone unnoticed by Mumbai's head coach Amol Muzumdar. "Tushar has been a consistent performer for us," Muzumdar said. "He has the pace, the accuracy, and the ability to take wickets. I believe he has the potential to play for India."Deshpande is now hoping that a strong performance in the Ranji final and the upcoming IPL will help him realize his dream of playing for India. "These three months, especially starting with the Ranji quarterfinal, are extremely important for me," Deshpande said. "I want to play these next three phases at full intensity."

Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium holds a special significance for Akshay Wakhare, the team's veteran off-spinner. Wakhare is one of only two players in the current Vidarbha squad to have played in the team's solitary Ranji Trophy game at the iconic venue, and he is the only cricketer to have featured in both of Vidarbha's previous Ranji encounters against Mumbai.Despite the ghosts of the 2013-14 clash, where Vidarbha was outplayed by a dominant Mumbai side, Wakhare exudes confidence that his team will approach the final as just another game. He believes that the majority of the Vidarbha players are accustomed to the pressure of big occasions and will not be overawed by the atmosphere or the location.Wakhare acknowledges the challenge of facing Mumbai, a team with a rich history and an impressive record in the Ranji Trophy. However, he emphasizes that Vidarbha has made significant strides in recent years and is no longer an underdog. The team's exposure to various levels of cricket, including the IPL and age-group tournaments, has instilled a sense of self-confidence in the younger players.While Wakhare does not forget the drubbing Vidarbha received at the hands of Zaheer Khan-led Mumbai at the Wankhede in 2013-14, he believes that the team has learned from its mistakes and is better prepared for the challenge this time around. He is confident that Vidarbha will not be overawed by the occasion and will give a strong account of itself in the Ranji Trophy final.

Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy semifinal defeat against Mumbai has sparked a controversy after coach Sulakshan Kulkarni publicly criticized captain R Sai Kishore's decision to bat first. Kulkarni's comments have drawn the ire of former state stars, who believe the issue should have been handled internally.Kulkarni claimed that the entire dressing room was shocked by Kishore's last-minute change of plan. He had previously instructed Kishore to bowl first if they won the toss, but the captain opted to bat instead."If his inner voice or instinct told him that we have to bat first, there was no point in having me," Kulkarni said. "I am an experienced coach and a Ranji Trophy-winning coach. We were playing against Mumbai in Mumbai, a place I know everything about, but he did not listen."Kishore has not responded to Kulkarni's allegations. However, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has expressed its displeasure with the coach's outburst."What he (Kulkarni) did was wrong," said a TNCA official. "We got five outright wins with Sai Kishore's good decision-making. You cannot blame someone for just one decision. That is not how a coach should work. In my view, Kulkarni has committed a mistake."Former India captain K Srikkanth condemned Kulkarni's actions on his YouTube channel. "This is absolutely not fair," he said. "Dear TNCA, please do not recruit such coaches from outside (the state)."Hemang Badani, another former Tamil Nadu player, wrote on social media: "Good coaches do not do that."Dinesh Karthik, who captained Tamil Nadu in the past, expressed his disappointment on Twitter. "This is so wrong. This is so disappointing from the coach," he said.The controversy has cast a shadow over Tamil Nadu's impressive Ranji Trophy campaign. The team had won five matches in a row before suffering the innings defeat against Mumbai.