Mumbai, 24th January: Reigning Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup champions Mumbai faced a shocking defeat on their home turf against Jammu and Kashmir, led by Paras Dogra, in the sixth round of the Ranji trophy at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC. Despite the efforts of Shardul Thakur, who performed with both bat and ball in the match, Jammu and Kashmir's quick and efficient chase of the 205-run target on the third day proved to be too much for Mumbai. This win catapulted J&K to the top spot in Group A with 29 points, while Mumbai slipped to third position with 22 points. The star-studded Mumbai squad, featuring internationals like Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shreyas Iyer, had a disappointing outing with their top order failing to make an impact.
In a crucial Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match, Mumbai's all-rounder Shardul Thakur once again proved his worth with a century knock of 113 runs, rescuing his team from a precarious situation. After a subpar performance by Mumbai's top order, including Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Thakur's 105-ball knock with 15 boundaries helped Mumbai take a lead of 188 runs on Day 2. This feat comes after Thakur's impressive 51-run knock in the first innings, showcasing his consistent brilliance with both bat and ball.
Mumbai's Shardul Thakur once again came to the rescue of his struggling team in the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir. After saving Mumbai's first innings with a century, Thakur stepped up in the second innings, scoring another hundred with support from Tanush Kotian. Meanwhile, other Indian internationals like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill struggled in their respective matches.
India's star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja marked his return to Ranji Trophy with a bang as he led his team Saurashtra to a convincing 10-wicket victory over Delhi. Jadeja finished with impressive match figures of 12/104, including the prized wicket of Rishabh Pant. Meanwhile, Jadeja's fellow Indian teammates struggled in the ongoing domestic tournament, with Pant managing just 18 runs in the match and Test captain Rohit Sharma getting dismissed for 28. However, Mumbai's Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian's partnership helped revive their team's innings and avoid a defeat.
Indian cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy has credited KL Rahul for his growth as an all-rounder. He revealed that Rahul's advices have been invaluable to him and have helped him overcome challenges and improve his performance. Despite impressive performances, Reddy was chosen as the fourth seamer instead of Shardul Thakur. Reddy also opened up about his humble background and how his father's sacrifices motivated him to take cricket seriously.
In the second day of the IPL mega auction, Punjab Kings grabbed South African pacer Marco Jansen for a whopping Rs seven crore, along with all-rounder Krunal Pandya for Rs 5.75 crore and batsman Nitish Rana for Rs 4.20 crore. Other notable players like Ajinkya Rahane, Kane Williamson, Prithvi Shaw and Shardul Thakur did not receive any bids, highlighting the importance of strategic purchases in the competitive world of IPL auctions.
As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepares to announce the team for the upcoming Australia series, all eyes are on veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara. With his impressive record against Australia in the last two tours, Pujara's experience could prove crucial for India's success. Meanwhile, selectors must also decide whether to give younger players a chance or stick with Pujara's proven abilities. Despite not featuring for India since the World Test Championship final, Pujara has continued to score runs, with his most recent appearance in the Ranji Trophy showcasing his skill and determination. With India facing challenges in the fast bowling department, the inclusion of players like Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal is also being considered. Mohammed Shami, who is crucial for India's bowling attack, might not be able to fully recover in time for the first matches of the series.
Mumbai will welcome back experienced players Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur for their upcoming Irani Cup match against the Rest of India. With Ajinkya Rahane leading the squad, the Mumbai team will aim to continue their success in the five-day first-class fixture. Thakur's all-round abilities and Iyer's comeback will be a boost for the team, who are eager to make a mark in the tournament. Despite a mediocre performance in the Duleep Trophy, Iyer will be hoping to make a strong case for a spot in the Indian team.
The Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy has been announced, with Ruturaj Gaikwad named as the captain. The team will face off against Mumbai, the 2023/24 Ranji champions, from October 1st to 5th. Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal, currently with Team India, will join the ROI squad but their participation is subject to them not being selected for the second Test against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane will feature for Mumbai, while Sarfaraz Khan was released from the Indian squad for the Test, with the MCA selection committee set to pick their squad for the game on Tuesday.
In a highly anticipated match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, the CSK bowling duo of Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur delivered a spectacular performance, conceding only a combined total of five runs in two overs and picking up crucial wickets. Despite a promising innings from MI's Matheesha Pathirana, the batsmen were unable to chase down CSK's total of 206. CSK bowling coach Eric Simons credited the exceptional bowling effort for the team's victory.