Ranji Trophy Final 2024, Day 1 Review: Shardul Thakur’s heroic script rescues Mumbai

Shardul-Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Vidarbha and Mumbai exchanged blows on Sunday, March 10, on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2024 finals at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Mumbai took three crucial wickets before Stumps on Day 1 after being blown away for 224.

A greenish track greeted the two teams on Sunday morning and Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar put Mumbai in to bat first. Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani were on song from the get-go and they added 81 runs in 20 overs. Yash Thakur gave Vidarbha their first breakthrough as Lalwani departed for a well-made 37. Prithvi hit some delightful boundaries during his innings of 46 runs. However, a rather innocuous delivery from Harsh Dubey went past his sweep shot and castled him.

The in-form Musheer Khan and the experienced duo of Shreyas Iyer and skipper Ajinkya Rahane also perished in quick time as the home side was reeling at 111/6. The fightback started with Shardul Thakur scoring a 37-ball half-century. He received decent support from the likes of Shams Mulani and Tushar Deshpande and took Mumbai past the 200-run mark. Shardul was the last Mumbai batter to be dismissed after he made 75 off 69 balls, belting eight fours and three sixes. The 41-time Ranji Trophy champions finished on 224.

Dubey and Thakur picked up three wickets apiece while Umesh Yadav bagged a couple. Aditya Thakare also chipped in with the wicket of Hardik Tamore while Tushar Deshpande was run out.

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Shardul Thakur-Dhawal Kulkarni combo rattles Vidarbha

After his heroics with the bat, Shardul came out all guns blazing with the new ball. He picked up the wicket of Dhruv Shorey in his second over as the right-handed batter departed without scoring.

Dhawal Kulkarni opened the bowling with Shardul and he picked up the wickets of Aman Mokhade and Karun Nair. Opener Atharva Taide remained unbeaten on 21 while Thakare was yet to open his account when Stumps were called. Vidarbha finished the day at 31/3, still 193 runs adrift of Mumbai’s first-innings score.