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Ranji Trophy
Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani returned a five-wicket haul as a dominant Mumbai crushed Himachal Pradesh by an innings and 120 runs to notch up an outright win on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D contest here Monday. After putting on board 446 in the first innings, Mumbai ran through a frail Himachal Pradesh batting line-up twice in as many days on a dusty BKC Ground track to record a comprehensive victory, their second of the season. Himachal, bundled out for 187 in a poor first-innings show on a placid wicket earlier on day three, showed no significant improvement in the second, making 139 in which only Pukhraj Mann (65 off 109 balls, 9x4s) provided some resistance. Resuming at a precarious 94 for 7 in the first innings, a brisk half-century from number 10 Vaibhav Arora (51 off 61 balls, 7x4s, 4x6s) gave HP some much-needed impetus, even as Nikhil Gangta (64 not out, 134 balls, 8x4s) held the other end strongly. Arora used the long handle to a good effect and ...
Mohammed Shami may have already bowled 93 overs in the ongoing Ranji Trophy but it is unlikely that one of India's finest pacers will be seen donning the whites again and his chances of wearing the ODI blues also look bleak. The 35-year-old last played for India in the Champions Trophy in March but since then, he hasn't been picked in any format. He had endured a lengthy layoff from the game after the heel injury in 2023 which required surgery after the World Cup. At this point, the direction in which Indian cricket is moving, it is unlikely that Shami will be adding more games to the 197 internationals that he has played across three formats. He has fallen off the radar in both Test and T20I cricket where Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep have rapidly gone up the ladder. The only format seemingly left for him is ODI. But given that the next one-day World Cup is in 2027, it wouldn't be particularly prudent to travel with a 37-year-old with a history of career-threatening injuries, ...
Senior pacer Mohammed Shami on Tuesday said he is "fit" and "ready" for an India comeback, having backed up his desire to return with exceptional performances in the season's first two Ranji Trophy matches. The Bengal speedster has made a strong claim for international comeback with a fiery spell that saw him take a match haul of eight wickets and propel his team to a 141-run win over Gujarat at the Eden Gardens. "A lot of hard work is there and I believe luck too plays a part. Every person wants to play for the country. So, I am ready for that (again)," Shami told reporters after his five-wicket haul in Gujarat's second innings. "My motivation is to stay fit and be available for the Indian team at all times. In the ground, I will continue to perform and the rest is on the selectors' hands." He added, "It's a relief. Mentally, physically, it feels very good, because, you are coming back from such a difficult time (injury), and you stay on the ground after that. "After that, all th
A confident Delhi will be aiming to log full points against Himachal Pradesh even as the debate continues on whether head coach Sarandeep Singh would pick the talented Priyansh Arya in the playing XI for the Ranji Trophy group D game starting Saturday. In Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), strange things have happened since time immemorial and making a current India A cricketer, who has scored a century in his last competitive game versus Australia A, warm the bench could be the latest addition to their hall of shame. Both Delhi and HP got three points from their opening fixture and Kotla isn't known for hosting Ranji games in October. Hence the flat and slow deck, that is expected to be on offer, promises to be a run-feast just like the hosts' opening match in Hyderabad where Sanat Sangwan and debutant Ayush Doseja scored double hundreds. Delhi will go into the match as favourites as Himachal Pradesh isn't a formidable opposition although they have IPL player Mayank ...
The possibility of Rishabh Pant's return to action, an array of new stars on the horizon and a clutch of veterans' battle for relevance will provide much-needed context to the 91st edition of the Ranji Trophy, beginning across the country on Wednesday. Pant's possible appearance in the second round is the highlight of Ranji Trophy's first phase, which otherwise lacks any immediate purpose in the larger scheme of things because of India's long Test winter after the home series against South Africa next month. Pant is out of action since a Chris Woakes delivery fractured his toe at Manchester in July, and his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence is on the right track. The wicketkeeper batter's name is missing from Delhi's jumbo squad of 24 players for the opening round match against Hyderabad. But if the CoE green lights his return then the left-hander can either play the second round (vs Himachal Pradesh from October 25) or the third round (vs Puducherry from November 1).
Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday stepped down from his position as Mumbai captain ahead of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, saying it is the right time to groom a new leader. The 37-year-old, who has amassed 14000 runs in 201 first-class matches, however, will continue to play as a batter in the team. The Ranji season begins on October 15 and Mumbai will be up against Jammu and Kashmir in their opening game. "Captaining and winning the championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour," Rahane wrote on his 'X' account. "With the new domestic season ahead, I believe it is the right time to groom a new leader, and hence, I have decided not to continue in the captaincy role. "I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player, and will continue my journey with MCA to help us win more trophies, looking forward to the season," he added. Under his captaincy, Mumbai clinched the Ranji Trophy title in the 202324 season with a victory over Vidarbha in the .
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to allow him to remain with the domestic giants, a month after asking for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to switch to Goa. In April, Jaiswal surprised everyone by writing to the MCA to seek its approval for a shock move to Goa. On its part, the MCA too had swiftly approved Jaiswal's request. PTI is in possession of Jaiswal's email to the MCA in which he said he is available to represent Mumbai in the next domestic season. "I the undersigned would request your goodself to consider my request in withdrawing my NOC given to me as I had some family plans in shifting to Goa which for now has been curtailed !," Jaiswal wrote. "So I sincerely request MCA to allow me to play for Mumbai this season! I have not submitted the NOC to BCCI nor to Goa Cricket Association!," he added. Jaiswal, who moved from Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi to Mumbai as a young player and rose through the ranks to make his debut across for