Jammu & Kashmir create history against star studded Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, Spoiling Rohit Sharma’s comeback to domestic cricket
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir secured a historic 5-wicket victory against defending champions Mumbai in their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match. Set a target of 205, Jammu and Kashmir were comfortably positioned at 112/1 but then faltered, slipping to 159/5. However, Abid Mushtaq and Kanhaiya Wadhawan combined for a crucial 42-run partnership off just 41 deliveries to take their team over the line. Shams Mulani’s brilliant four-wicket haul for Mumbai wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.
Rohit Sharma made his return to the Ranji Trophy following the BCCI’s mandate for even senior players to play domestic cricket, but his return ended in disappointment with Mumbai’s loss. Despite his efforts with the bat, Rohit’s performance couldn’t inspire Mumbai to victory as they fell short in the high-pressure encounter.
Shardul Thakur, who had recently emphasized that a player should be selected based on their quality, made a statement with his performance. Battling cramps and benefiting from a reprieve, Shardul rescued Mumbai from defeat by scoring a dominating century against Jammu and Kashmir. After conceding a first-innings lead of 86, Mumbai found themselves in trouble at 101 for 7.
Shardul Thakur, along with Tanush Kotian (58), added a crucial 173-run partnership for the eighth wicket, helping Mumbai finish the day at 274 for 7 with a comfortable lead of 188 runs. Thakur’s gritty knock came after he had settled into his innings, relying on singles before breaking into a flurry of boundaries once the surface eased. Despite the scorching temperature and frequent medical breaks for cramps, Shardul kept J&K’s bowlers at bay, hitting 17 boundaries in his 113-run innings. His perseverance in the heat and the pressure of the game showed his determination.
Historic Win: J&K Stuns Mumbai in Ranji Trophy
A remarkable team effort from J&K as they defeat a star-studded Mumbai side on their home ground.pic.twitter.com/Tw8w2abf2O
— زماں (@Delhiite_) January 25, 2025
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal had promising starts for Mumbai, putting together 54 runs for the first wicket. However, Rohit’s innings of 28 was a mix of hits and misses. After receiving a reprieve when Nazir dropped a tough return catch, Rohit struck a few boundaries and a signature pull shot for six. But despite the brief spark of form, his innings was cut short when Mushtaq took a stunning one-handed catch at mid-wicket off Nazir’s bowling. While Mumbai’s top order struggled, including Rohit, the team’s reliance on senior players like him and others didn’t pay off in this crucial encounter.