On a pitch offering no unusual challenges, Mumbai’s batting lineup crumbled against a strong Rajasthan attack on the first day of their Group-D Ranji Trophy encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s determined knock of 67 runs (97 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) was the only bright spot for Mumbai.
Initially, Rajasthan’s decision to bowl first seemed ill-advised. Mumbai’s openers, Jaiswal and Musheer Khan, built a commanding 100-run partnership, with Musheer contributing 49 runs (131 balls, 3 fours), allowing Mumbai to comfortably control the morning session.
Mumbai batter Jaiswal showcasing his batting prowess during the Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan.
However, the tables quickly turned. Few could have predicted that this cricketing powerhouse would then suffer a dramatic collapse, losing seven wickets for a mere 79 runs, ultimately getting dismissed for a total of 254.
Riding on this momentum, fast bowler Ashok Sharma, playing in only his second First-Class game, claimed three wickets for 76 runs, while experienced left-arm spinner Kookna Singh grabbed four for 66. Their combined effort dismantled Mumbai’s star-studded batting order, which fell apart swiftly in the second session. A late 42-run eighth-wicket stand between Shams Mulani and Himanshu Singh provided some resistance, pushing Mumbai past the 200-run mark.
Ashok’s strategy of bowling relentlessly at the stumps proved highly effective, exploiting Mumbai batters’ poor shot selection. This disciplined approach led to six of Mumbai’s batsmen being caught behind by wicketkeeper Kunal Rathore.
While Ashok initiated the collapse, Kookna expertly finished off the tail-enders. Fast bowlers Aniket Choudhary and Akash Singh also contributed, each securing a crucial wicket.
At the close of play, Rajasthan’s openers successfully navigated the remaining overs, ending day one at 10 for no loss and setting the stage for their innings to continue.
Earlier in the day, before the dramatic collapse, Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed exceptional calm and skill, while Musheer Khan provided solid support. Jaiswal notched his 17th First-Class fifty and appeared destined for a much larger score until he was dismissed by Aniket, caught attempting a pull shot.
Mumbai’s innings plummeted from a strong 100 for no loss to a struggling 156 for six. Musheer Khan, who had been given a lifeline on 32 after being bowled by Ashok on a no-ball, unfortunately couldn’t make the most of it, falling just one run short of his half-century.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal c Rathore b Aniket 67 (97b, 8×4, 1×6), Musheer Khan c Rathore b Akash 49 (131b, 3×4), Ajinkya Rahane c Rathore b Ashok 3, Siddhesh Lad c Rathore b Ashok 8, Sarfaraz Khan c Rathore b Ashok 15, Akash Anand b Kookna 5, Shams Mulani lbw b Rahul 32, Shardul Thakur c Rathore b Kookna 18, Himanshu Singh c Lomror b Kookna 25, Tushar Deshpande (not out) 25, Irfan Umair b Kookna 0; Extras: (b-4, wd-2, nb-1): 7; Total (in 76.3 overs): 254.
Fall of wickets: 1-100, 2-107, 3-121, 4-144, 5-150, 6-156, 7-179, 8-221, 9-244.
Rajasthan bowling: Aniket 17-3-44-1, Akash 11.4-3-28-1, Kookna 16.3-1-66-4, Ashok 18-4-76-3, Rahul 10-2-32-1, Sachin 3.2-0-4-0.
Rajasthan — 1st innings: Abhijeet Tomar (batting) 3, Sachin Yadav (batting) 7; Total (for no loss in 4 overs): 10.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul 2-1-2-0, Deshpande 2-0-8-0.