Indian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma is set to make his Ranji Trophy return as he has been named in the 17-member full Mumbai squad for their upcoming home encounter against Jammu and Kashmir. Rohit will play under the skipper Ajinkya Rahane. 

Defending champions Mumbai battling to qualify for the knockout stages

The defending champions Mumbai are ready to host Jammu and Kashmir in their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 group stage match, starting on January 23. It is a crucial game for both teams as the Elite Group A second-placed Jammu and Kashmir have 23 points (three wins and two draws) and the third-placed Mumbai have 22 points (three wins, one loss, and one draw). Baroda are leading the table with 27 points (four wins and one draw). Only the top two of the points table can advance to the knockout stages.

Ajinkya Rahane is set to continue his leadership role for Mumbai, where Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, etc. are set to challenge the present Group A runners-up.

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Rohit Sharma is ready to make his Ranji Trophy return after almost a decade

The 37-year-old Rohit Sharma is set to play a Ranji Trophy match for the first time since 2015. He is struggling in the red-ball cricket as the right-handed batter hasn’t scored many runs in the 2024-25 Test season.

In his last eight Tests, Rohit scored 164 runs in 15 innings with an average of 10.93. Except for one 52 runs against New Zealand during the third innings of the Bengaluru Test, Rohit managed only one more 20+ runs in his last 15 Test innings. 

In the recently concluded Australia tour, where India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by 3-1, skipper Rohit scored only 31 runs in five innings (average 6.20) and dropped himself from the last Test at Sydney.

For Mumbai, Rohit is the ninth leading first class run-scorer with 3941 runs in 65 innings (45 matches) with an average of 66.79, including 14 centuries and 15 half-centuries with the highest score of 309 not out. Among the Mumbai batters with 3000+ first-class runs, Rohit has the highest batting average.

Before the beginning of the home ODI series against England, Rohit Sharma needs a good batting performance in the Ranji Trophy to regain his confidence. He is a very important name for Team India for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. ​

Complete Mumbai Squad for Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Jammu and Kashmir

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Mhatre, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhesh Lad, Shivam Dube, Hardik Tamore (wk), Akash Anand (wk), Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Awasthi, Sylvester Dsouza, Royston Dias, Karsh Kothari. 

In a record-breaking run feast at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Mumbai mount a gigantic first-innings score of 403 for the loss of seven wickets against Nagaland in the Group C fixture of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set the tone early on with a scintillating 156-run opening stand and Shardul Thakur subsequently applied the finishing touches by slamming 73 (28) to help Mumbai cross the 400-run barrier.

It was a day to forget for the Nagaland bowlers. They received some heavy pounding from the Mumbai batters, mostly notably from Mhatre, Raghuvanshi, and later from the Mumbai skipper Thakur who smoked them to all parts. Nagaho Chishi turned out to be the most expensive bowler finishing with expensive figures of 2-100 in his 10 whereas Imliwati Lemtur was the only bowler who bowled with some degree of control finishing with formidable figures of 1-49 while going at 4.9 RPO.

Shardul's late flourish with the bat powers Mumbai to a massive score

With the stage perfectly set for an insane assault towards the back end of the innings, the former Indian all-rounder wasted no time in getting into the act. Walking in to bat at number six, Shardul raced to his half-century in a matter of only 24 balls. He remained unbeaten till the end and improved his individual score to 73. In his 28-ball innings,  Shardul hammered two fours and eight sixes and scored at a breathtaking strike rate of 260.71.

Shardul predominately scored on both sides of the wicket however, his wagon wheel suggests that the hard-hitting all-rounder favored the off-side more than the on-side. Nearly 52% of his runs came on the off side. He primarily targeted the long off boundary and the mid-wicket boundary and smashed as many as six boundaries in these regions. Third man and fine leg have been his least productive scoring regions in his blazing 28-ball innings.

See also: Abhishek Sharma slams 60-ball century with centurion Prabhsimran Singh to set record partnership

Shardul's Wagon Wheel

At the time of writing, Nagaland had already commenced their run chase and it was Shardul Thakur again who sprung back into action with the ball this time reducing Nagaland to 13-2 by the end of the fifth over.

The exclusion of Prithvi Shaw from Mumbai's domestic squad for the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy has made several headlines in recent times. But given his ongoing struggles with form, fitness, and discipline, such a development was on the cards for the promising batter. Previously, his omission from the Mumbai Ranji squad also left Shaw immensely frustrated. 

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Shaw vents his frustration on his Instagram

Facing exclusions on both fronts has been a bitter pill to swallow for the former U-19 World Cup-winning captain. With over 100 domestic appearances for Mumbai across formats, Shaw was not only frustrated but was left baffled as to what more an individual needs to do in order to cement his place in the side.   

To express his anguish following his snub, Shaw took to Instagram to post a story that read the following:

“Tell me, God, what more do I have to see… If 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I'm not good enough… but I will keep my faith in you, and hopefully, people believe in me still… because I will come back for sure. Om Sai Ram.”

MCA uncovers the real reason behind Shaw's snub in the Vijay Hazare Trophy

Prithvi Shaw's Instagram story did not go unnoticed by MCA. In a recent turn of events, the governing body stated that the young 23-year-old batter was dropped solely on grounds of fitness and discipline. 

Although MCA highlighted fitness and discipline as their key areas of concern, they also advised Shaw to work on his game and remain hopeful of a resounding comeback from him if all boxes are ticked.

“The fitness concern is there, but the performance is also not there currently. He needs to work on his fitness, discipline, and performance. The main issue is the fitness. You see the matches. You get the image, right? Just by looking at his frame, the fitness issues are there for everyone to see. We hope he works on these issues and makes a strong comeback. We all know his talent. It is just about him putting in the hard yards.”

Prithvi was a part of Mumbai's victorious run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. However, he did not make a significant contribution. Although Mumbai secured the championship, Shaw faced difficulties with his batting. Over the course of nine innings, he was unable to accumulate 200 runs, maintaining an average of less than 25 and consistently finding it challenging to perform against the new ball.

Mumbai create new T20 cricket history after openers Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane’s thrashing start and Suryansh Shedge’s fiery finish in the high-scoring chase of the SMAT 2024-25 quarter-final against Vidarbha.

After Mumbai chose to field first, Vidarbha scored 221/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Mumbai chased the target in 19.2 overs after losing four wickets. 

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Vidarbha had two half-centuries before Shubham Dubey's fiery batting

Vidarbha openers Atharva Taide and Karun Nair provided a solid start with a 60-run opening partnership before Nair lost his wicket for 26 runs in the sixth over. While the opener Taide scored 66 off 41 balls (10 fours and one six), the no.4 batter Apoorv Wankhade scored 51 off 33 balls (two fours and three sixes). They had an 81-run partnership for the third wicket. Later, Shubham Dubey fired up with 43 not out off 19 balls with three fours and three sixes.  

Among the Mumbai bowlers, Atharva Ankolekar (2/32) and Suryansh Shedge (2/36) took two wickets each while Tanush Kotian (1/19) got a wicket. 

Shaw and Rahane started strongly before Dube and Shedge's outstanding finishing

Mumbai openers Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane started the chase in a dominant way. The openers had an 83-run partnership for the first wicket before Shaw was dismissed for 49 off 26 balls with five fours and four sixes. 

Rahane continued his strong batting performances despite the captain Shreyas Iyer (5) and Suryakumar Yadav (9) losing their wickets cheaply. When Rahane was dismissed in the 16th over, Mumbai scored 157/4, and they still required 65 runs in 29 balls. 

Rahane scored 84 off 45 balls with the help of 10 fours and three sixes. The right-handed batter completed his 47th T20 half-century in 27 balls. It was his fourth 50+ score in his last five T20 innings (52, 68, 22, 95, and 84). 

Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge slammed the opponent bowlers and comfortably chased the giant target. While Dube scored 37 not out off 22 balls (one four and two sixes), Shedge scored 36 not out off just 12 balls (one four and four sixes).

Highest successful chase in a T20 knockout stage

It was the highest successful chase in a knockout match in T20 cricket history. The previous record was successfully chasing the 210-run target by Karachi Dolphins against Rawalpindi Rams at Lahore during the semi-final of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup 2010-11.  

Meanwhile, it was also the joint third-highest successful chase for a team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history. 

Shreyas Iyer has finally brought his consistent form with the bat as he scored his second consecutive first-class century in domestic cricket, which shined in a double century. 

Although Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to win the IPL 2024 title, which was the third IPL trophy success for the team, Iyer is now under pressure for his inconsistent form. After scoring 351 runs in 14 innings in the IPL 2024, Iyer struggled in the ODI series in Sri Lanka, where the right-handed batter scored only 38 runs in three innings. 

During the Duleep Trophy, Iyer failed to reach the double-digit scores in the first innings chances and scored 54, 41, and 50 runs in the second innings opportunities. 

In the first two first-class games for Mumbai this season, the right-handed batter scored 95 runs in four innings, including 57 runs against Rest of India in the Irani Cup. Iyer's inconsistent batting form forced KKR to release him from the squad before the mage auction. 

Shreyas Iyer scored 233 runs

After scoring 142 runs against Maharastra in his previous Ranji Trophy match, Iyer was absent against Tripura due to his shoulder injury. Returning to the team, Iyer now scored 233 runs off 228 balls against Odisha with the help of 24 fours and nine sixes. 

Iyer had a 354-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Siddesh Lad, who scored 169 not out off 337 balls with 17 fours. Their batting powered Mumbai to score 602/4 before captain Ajinkya Rahane declared the innings. Rahane disappointed the innings with a golden duck. 

Apart from Lad and Iyer, the KKR cricketer Angkrish Raghuvanshi also shined against Odisha, as the opener scored 92 runs in 124 balls with 13 fours and three sixes. 

In reply, Odisha scored 146/5 at the stumps of the second day. They are trailing by 456 runs. 

Iyer played two Tests during England tour of India this year

Apart from 62 ODIs, Iyer has played 51 T20Is and 14 Tests for India. His last T20I was in December 2023 during the Bengaluru T20I against Australia. 

Iyer played his last Test in February during the home five-match Test series against England. Iyer featured in the first two Tests of the series, where he scored 13, 35, 29, and 27 runs, respectively. 

Ajinkya Rahane’s Mumbai team made history on Saturday by clinching the Irani Cup for the first time in 27 years, defeating the Rest of India (RoI) side at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This monumental victory marks Mumbai’s 15th Irani Cup title, the most by any Ranji Trophy team, further cementing their legacy as one of India's premier cricket teams.

Sarfaraz Khan shines with unbeaten double century

After being sent in to bat on Day 1, Mumbai made a commanding start by posting a formidable total of 537, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan’s blistering unbeaten knock of 222, his fourth First-Class double hundred. Sarfaraz’s innings was the cornerstone of Mumbai’s batting effort, while captain Ajinkya Rahane also contributed with a solid 97. The partnership laid the foundation for Mumbai’s dominance in the match.

𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 👏 👏

Mohit Avasthi gets his 50. Tanush Kotian remains unbeaten on 114. The players shake hands 🤝

The match ends in a draw & Mumbai win the trophy by virtue of taking first-innings lead 🙌#IraniCup | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/0GTKkAdU6m

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 5, 2024

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Kotian’s heroics and Easwaran’s fightback

In response, Rest of India managed to score 416, with Abhimanyu Easwaran leading the fight with a brilliant 191. However, Mumbai's bowlers worked cohesively to secure a crucial 121-run first-innings lead, a margin that would prove to be the turning point. Mumbai’s second innings saw a shaky start with early dismissals, but Tanush Kotian’s heroic unbeaten 114 and Mohit Avasthi’s 51 not out stabilized the innings. The duo's unbroken 158-run partnership took the game beyond RoI’s reach.

With the match heading toward a draw, the teams shook hands when Mumbai reached 329 for 8, handing them victory based on their first-innings lead.

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced the 16-member Mumbai squad for the Irani Cup 2024/25 on Tuesday (September 24). The former Indian Test vice-captain has been selected as the captain of the Mumbai team. 

Like most of the previous years, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions will start the first-class cricket season with the Irani Cup, where they will face the Rest of India. Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow will host this match from October 1. Last season, Mumbai extended their most Ranji Trophy titles record by winning it 42nd time. 

SEE ALSO: Sahil Parakh shines as India U19 clinches dominant ODI series win over Australia

Mumbai previously won the Irani Cup in 1997/98

It will be the first time for Mumbai to compete in the Irani Cup since 2016/17. The last time they played the Irani Cup was in the 2015/16 season, where they lost by four wickets. 

The Rest of India have won the Irani Cup for record times, 30 times. They have won all the last three Irani Cups. Meanwhile, out of participating 29 times, Mumbai have recorded 14 Irani Cup successes, the second most successful team in the Irani Cup history. 

The last time Mumbai won the Irani Cup was in the 1997/98 season. Under the leadership of Sanjay Manjrekar, Mumbai won that match by 53 runs. 

Ajinkya Rahane will lead Mumbai in the Irani Cup 

Former Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who led the Indian team in 11 international matches (six Tests, three ODIs, and two T20Is), will lead the Mumbai team in the upcoming Irani Cup. 

Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur have been named in the 16-member Mumbai squad. 

The Irani Cup 2024/25 will start on the last scheduled day of the Kanpur Test. So, the players in the Indian team squad are unable to participate in the Irani Cup. However, if Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube are released from the Indian Test team, they can join the Mumbai team for the Irani Cup.  

According to the latest BCCI report, Sarfaraz Khan has been released from the Indian squad to be available for Mumbai in the Irani Cup.            

Meanwhile, the MCA also announced the 25-member probable Mumbai squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024/25. 

Mumbai squad for the Irani Cup 2024/25

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan, Royston Dias

Probable Mumbai squad for the Ranji Trophy 2024/25

Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan, Royston Dias, Harsh Tanna, Prasad Pawar (wk), Shashank Attarde, Karsh Kothari, Atharva Ankolekar, Jay Bista, Saksham Jha

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly shifted the venue of the Irani Cup 2024/25. The reigning Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai will face the Rest of India in the upcoming Irani Cup match, starting on October 1.

Previously, the BCCI had scheduled the Irani Cup 2024/25 in Mumbai. However, according to the latest ESPNcricinfo report, the BCCI has decided to shift the upcoming Irani Cup match venue due to reducing any weather disruptions, as Mumbai is going through an extensive monsoon.  

SEE ALSO: Sarfaraz Khan set to play Duleep Trophy before Bangladesh Test

Lucknow will host the Irani Cup 2024/25 

Lucknow will host the Irani Cup 2024/25 match, starting on October 1. It will be the first time Lucknow will host the Irani Cup match.

Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) secretary Arvind Kumar Srivastava told ESPNcricinfo, "This year's Irani Cup match will be held in Lucknow, and we are excited to host it."

Just like the previous years, the Irani Cup 2024/25 will run with only one game between the reigning Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India. 

Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy 2023/24 after beating Vidarbha by 169 runs in the final of the competition. 

While Irani Cup 2024/25 will begin on October 1, it will be the last day of the last game of the two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur. So, the Indian Test squad members for the Kanpur Test can’t participate in the Irani Cup. 

Rest of India won last three Irani Cups, Mumbai last won in 1997/98

The 30-time Irani Cup champions Rest of India have won all the last three Irani Cups (2019/20, 2022/23, and 2023/24; 2020/21 and 2021/22 Irani Cup tournaments were cancelled due to COVID-19). 

The 14-time Irani Cup champions Mumbai last played an Irani Cup match in the 2015/16 season, when they lost against the Rest of India by four wickets. Last time they won an Irani Cup was in the 1997/98 season, when they won by 54 runs.

In the high-octane arena of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where cricket not only captivates millions but also moves massive sums of money, the threat of corruption looms large. The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the game. So far, in IPL 2024, their vigilance has been tested with incidents in Mumbai and Jaipur, highlighting the constant battle against corrupt elements.

Recent Incidents and Immediate Action

The ACU’s proactive approach was clearly demonstrated during two IPL matches involving the Rajasthan Royals. The first incident occurred during a home game against the Delhi Capitals on March 28 in Jaipur, where two individuals were apprehended from a corporate box and handed over to local police. Days later, a similar scenario unfolded in Mumbai during the MI-RR game on April 1. Suspects were escorted out of the MCA President’s Box at the Wankhede Stadium and handed over to the authorities.

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Detailed Examination of Incidents

In Jaipur, the swift action by the ACU led to the lodging of FIRs against the suspects. The intervention highlighted the unit’s readiness to combat corruption with stringent measures.

Conversely, the Mumbai case took an unexpected turn when the two individuals were released after investigations revealed a possible case of mistaken identity, underscoring the complexities faced in real-time surveillance and action.

According to a Marine Drive Police Station officer, the two individuals were let go since “nothing untoward was found on their electronic devices”.

Operational Tactics of the ACU

The ACU leverages advanced technology and close collaborations with local law enforcement to monitor activities around the matches. By scrutinizing CCTV and live TV footage, they aim to intercept corrupt practices even before they manifest fully.

These incidents cast a spotlight on the vital importance of maintaining vigilance to preserve the spirit and integrity of cricket. While the ACU’s actions reassure players and stakeholders, they also remind fans of the ongoing vigilance required to protect the sport they love.

Challenges in Upholding Integrity

Identifying genuine threats from false alarms presents a significant challenge. The ACU’s tasks are compounded by the need to act swiftly yet judiciously to avoid tarnishing reputations based on incorrect information.

The BCCI official, on condition of anonymity, stressed that the ACU, with the support of the BCCI machinery, is “doing its best to keep corrupt elements away from the IPL.”

Following the historic 42^nd Ranji Trophy win, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided to double the match fees of its players from next season. A recommendation from the state association to match the fees of BCCI from the domestic circuit has been approved by the MCA apex council meeting.

MCA to double the money

Reportedly, the Mumbai Cricket Association will be paying INR 1.2 lakh a day to its most experienced players. The BCCI at present pays INR 60,000 per day to a player who has played more than 40 Ranji games, INR 50,000 to those who have played between 21 and 40 games and INR 40,000 for those who’ve played up to 20 games. The reserve players get INR 30,000, INR 25,000 and INR 20,000 in the respective categories as well. Now, a senior Mumbai player will be paid INR 6 lakh from a 5-day Ranji game (knockout matches) and up to INR 50 lakh from a season once the team reaches final.

“The MCA proudly announces a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting the Ranji Trophy and fostering the growth of red-ball cricket in the Mumbai Cricket jurisdiction,” the MCA said after an Apex Council meeting where the initiative was proposed by association president Amol Kale.

Secretary explains the reason behind the decision

On the other hand, the MCA Secretary Ajinkya Naik said, “The initiative received unanimous support from the Apex Council, reflecting the collective dedication of MCA’s leadership to the advancement of cricket at all levels. It is a testament to the progressive vision of our President and his deep-seated belief in the importance of red-ball cricket as a fundamental aspect of player development.”

The MCA’s continued commitment to keep the enthusiasm for red-ball cricket alive is evident in their action. Last month they matched the prize money of INR 5 crore for the Ranji Trophy winning team as well. “We felt that the player should earn more, especially those who play Ranji Trophy cricket. For us red ball cricket matters the most as the Ranji Trophy holds a special place for everyone in Mumbai,” Kale said.