Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur is optimistic about the team’s chances of reaching the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 quarter-finals. They face Meghalaya in their final group-stage match, starting Thursday, January 30. To stay in the knockout race, Mumbai must win and secure a bonus point.
However, their fate also depends on the result of the match between Baroda and J&K. J&K currently lead Group A with 29 points, while Baroda are second with 27. Mumbai, who have 22 points, need a bonus-point victory and must rely on J&K defeating Baroda.
If Baroda wins or even secures a draw, Mumbai’s qualification hopes will be over. Before the match, Shardul Thakur emphasized the importance of Mumbai staying united and playing as a team. He commented:
“Longer format is an emotional roller coaster ride, one session can take the game away. The player who has observed must have learned from it. Be humble and be respectful, I don’t take anything or anyone lightly. The message from the coach and captain is simple. We need to stick together and play together as a team,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
He added that Mumbai must believe in their ability, trust their preparation, and aim for a bonus-point win against winless Meghalaya.
“It’s about believing. When chips are down, we have to believe that we can come on top. We need to trust our preparation and execute our skills, we will be good. As Mumbai team whenever we are pushed back on the wall, we have emerged on the top. We are hoping to play with that kind of attitude what we have been doing over the years. I think we will be fine,” he said.
Mumbai to Play With a Weakened Squad Against Meghalaya in Ranji Trophy
Several Indian stars, including Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, returned to domestic cricket for Mumbai’s previous game. The squad also featured Shreyas Iyer, captain Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube among other India internationals.
However, Rohit, Jaiswal, and Shreyas struggled to make an impact with the bat. According to ‘The Indian Express’, the selectors have decided to field a less star-studded team for the crucial match against Meghalaya, excluding the three senior players.
They will be replaced by young talents Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Suryansh Shedge.
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