Rewind to January: Mumbai, a powerhouse with 42 Ranji Trophy titles and a squad brimming with international talent like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur, faced an unexpected upset. Jammu & Kashmir, a team devoid of international experience, defied all predictions to clinch a remarkable five-wicket victory at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, securing only their third quarter-final appearance in history.
Mumbai players during a practice session.
Now, the stage is set for an exciting rematch. These two teams are poised to clash again in the opening round of the new Ranji season, engaging in an Elite Group-D encounter starting this Wednesday.
Sarfaraz Khan, ready to unleash his explosive batting.
Despite reaching the semi-finals last season, where they were defeated by eventual champions Vidarbha, Mumbai’s relentless pursuit of excellence means anything less than a title is often deemed a setback. This competitive spirit has led to a change in leadership for the new campaign.
A scenic view of the cricket match venue in Srinagar.
Shardul Thakur, who delivered impressive scores of 51 and 119 in the previous fixture against Jammu & Kashmir, has taken over the captaincy from Rahane. Although Shreyas Iyer is out of red-ball cricket for six months due to back spasms, Mumbai’s 16-member squad still looks formidable, with key players like Sarfaraz Khan and Dube ready to contribute.
The spotlight will undoubtedly be on Sarfaraz Khan. Having recovered from a quadriceps injury, this match presents a crucial opportunity for him to pile up significant runs and bolster his case for a recall to the national Test squad. He’s determined to prove his worth!
However, the challenge will be immense. As winter approaches and temperatures drop in the north, Sarfaraz and his fellow Mumbai batters must prepare for a rigorous test against an impressive pace battery from Jammu & Kashmir, featuring talents such as Umran Malik, Aaqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, and Umar Nazir.