Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul scores ton as Mumbai regains control against J&K on Day 2
Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul scores ton as Mumbai regains control against J&K on Day 2
A day after Shardul Thakur asserted that a player should be considered for selection if he has the ‘quality’, the all-rounder served another reminder to the national selectors as he battled cramps, made the most of a reprieve and eventually rescued Mumbai from the jaws of defeat, with a dominating century against Jammu and Kashmir.
After conceding a first-innings lead of 86, a star-studded yet misfiring Mumbai was reeling at 101 for 7 when Shardul (113 batting, 119b, 17×4) partnered with the seasoned Tanush Kotian (58 batting, 119b, 6×4) for the eighth wicket and ensured that his team ended the day at 274 for 7, with a comfortable lead of 188.
Shardul took time to settle in, and as seamers Umar Nazir and Yudhvir Singh breathed fire, he relied on singles before hitting a flurry of boundaries once the surface eased out.
Similar to their efforts in the first essay, Shardul and Kotian backed each other throughout their 173-run stand. With the temperature soaring, Shardul needed regular medical attention for cramps, but that wasn’t a deterrent as he kept the J&K bowlers at bay.
Things, however, went haywire for Mumbai earlier in the day as it lost seven wickets for 47 runs after Mohit Avasthi’s five-for restricted J&K to 206.
Despite India captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal making a promising start, adding 54 runs, Rohit’s knock of 28 was mixed with hits and misses. He capitalised on a tough dropped return catch by Nazir early on and hit a few boundaries and a trade-mark pull for a six, but a one-handed grab from Mushtaq at mid-wicket off Nazir cut short his innings.
Things went downhill for Mumbai thereafter.
With Hardik Tamore, Jaiswal and Rohit falling in quick succession, Shreyas Iyer and captain Ajinkya Rahane tried to rebuild. Shreyas was lucky to have survived a caught-behind appeal off Nazir. There was a clear sound of the edge that umpire S. Ravi seemed to have missed. However, he could not capitalise and was again caught behind shortly after his initial reprieve.
Drama prevailed as Rahane was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan, but because the latter had bowled a no-ball, umpires called the captain back. However, Rahane’s innings was short-lived as he was dismissed two overs later, caught brilliantly by Paras Dogra in the covers off Nazir.
At the time, a defeat loomed large for Mumbai before Shardul and Kotian stitched a match-saving partnership.
