Mumbai, on Thursday, 14 March ended their 8-year drought as they defeated Vidarbha by 169 runs in the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Led by Ajinkya Rahane, Mumbai secured their 42nd trophy, extending their unmatched record. Despite Vidarbha's strong effort in chasing a daunting 538-run target, they were ultimately bowled out for 368 on the fifth day of the match.
Dhawal's Fairytale Ending
In his final first-class match, Dhawal Kulkarni scripted a fairytale ending by dismantling Umesh Yadav's stumps, sealing Mumbai's victory.
Mumbai's spin-bowling allrounder Tanush Kotian and fast bowler Tushar Deshpande emerged as the architects of Vidarbha's downfall, dismantling their batting lineup and dismissing them for 368 in an unprecedented chase of 538.
Despite the valiant efforts of Vidarbha's captain Akshay Wadkar and rookie Harsh Dubey, who had defied Mumbai's bowlers in a wicket-less morning session, thanks to a 130-run sixth-wicket stand between Akshay Wadkar and Harsh Dubey, leaving 290 runs needed off the last day in their 538-run chase.
Wadkar was the first wicket to fall on day five as he plumbed in front of the wicket by Kotian. The 102-run knock of Wadkar kept Vidarbha in the contest but after he got out it was all Mumbai’s game.
Stellar Bowling Attack
However, their collapse in the next few overs put an end to Vidarbha's hopes of winning a third First-Class title. With the ball, Tanush Kotian shone, taking four wickets, including Wadkar. Deshpande and Musheer Khan took two wickets each as shams Mulani and Kulkarni shared a wicket each.
Fittingly, it was Kulkarni, the stalwart of Mumbai cricket, who delivered the final blow, bowling Umesh Yadav to seal victory and bid farewell to his beloved team in style. With his captain Ajinkya Rahane and the adoring Wankhede crowd cheering him on, Kulkarni's emotional send-off marked the end of an era, as he departed as a true domestic legend, having played a pivotal role in Mumbai's cricketing legacy.
As Kulkarni passed the torch to the next generation of Mumbai's bowling attack, Deshpande emerged as a formidable force on the field, unleashing a barrage of around-the-wicket bouncers to bully Vidarbha's batsmen and pave the way for Mumbai's triumph. Alongside him, Mohit Avasthi, Mumbai's joint-highest wicket-taker of the season, stood as a testament to Mumbai's depth and talent, despite his absence due to injury in the final.
This victory marked Mumbai's return to Ranji Trophy glory since 2016, reinforcing their position as the most successful team in the tournament's history. Leading the pack with a remarkable number of titles, Mumbai outshines all other competitors, with Karnataka trailing far behind as the second-most successful team, having won only 8 titles.
With inputs from IANS
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