Ranji Trophy: Jammu & Kashmir Stun Defending Champions Mumbai with 5-Wicket Win

Jammu and Kashmir, who weren’t expected to win, have been surprising all with their excellent form in the Ranji Trophy. They have moved closer to qualifying for the knockout stages after they defeated Mumbai, the defending champions, by five wickets in a Group A match. It was their first victory over Mumbai in almost a decade their last victory having been in December 2014 at Wankhede Stadium

It was a great feat considering that the star-studded Mumbai squad features India Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, former captain Ajinkya Rahane, ODI regular and IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, up-and-coming talent Yashasvi Jaiswal, veteran all-rounder Shardul Thakur, and off-spinner Tanush Kotian who is part of the Border Gavaskar team as well.

Rohit Sharma’s return to the Ranji Trophy after a decade was not so great, he managed only 31 runs in two innings and looked out of form. Jammu Kashmir, with 29 points from six matches, is leading in Group A and requires only one point from their last game against Baroda to qualify for the knockout stage. Baroda, with 27 points from five games, is currently playing Maharashtra, and if they take a first-innings lead then Mumbai (22 points from six games) will be out, whatever they do in their last game against Meghalaya.

In pursuit of 205 for a win, Jammu and Kners Shubham Khajuria (45) and Vivrant Sharma (38) made a good beginning with a 75-run partnership for the second wicket. Five boundaries, including one four each in an over, IPL star Abdul Samad (24 off 20 balls), but left-hander Abid Mushtaq (32 not out) was the one who almost sealed the win with two massive sixes off Kotian. The first one was hit down the ground and the second one over the top of the leg side, known as 'Cow Corner', caused wild celebrations in the dugout.

Jammu and Kashmir's Bowlers Shine, Claim 19 of Mumbai’s 20 Wickets

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was seen applauding Jammu and Kashmir’s players though he couldn’t hide his disappointment. The Mumbai camp looked deflated though they put up a strong fight in their second innings, which was aided by Shardul Thakur, who played a brilliant knock of 119 to take the score to 290. Jammu and Kashmir's medium pacers Yudhvir Singh, who took seven wickets, Umar Nazir Mir, with six wickets, and Auquib Nabi, who also took six wickets were exceptional, taking 19 out of 20 Mumbai wickets on a BKC pitch that got some aid from the moisture that was present on the first two mornings. The pitch became better for batting after lunch on the second day, and this was evident in the good Shardul-Kotian partnership.

On the final day, there was some turn, bounce, and grip from the pitch and Shams Mulani gave it his all for 4/54 in 15 overs. However, Mumbai opening bowlers Shardul (0/45 in 8 overs) and Mohit Avasthi (1/33 in 10 overs) struggled once the initial movement off the surface faded after the first 30 minutes. A two-figure total partnership would have been sufficient for Jammu and Kashmir to chase down the total. The first was from Khajuria and Vivrant, and a quick 24 by opener Yawer Hassan. The second partnership of 48 went between Abid and Kanhaiya Wadhawan (19 not out). Mumbai bowlers gave away too many boundary balls (25 fours, three sixes) which proved costly while defending a small total. But it was Mumbai’s poor first innings total of 120 that ultimately proved to be their downfall.