In the much-anticipated return of Prithvi Shaw to the Ranji Trophy following a prolonged injury hiatus hopes soared for the Indian cricket sensation. Despite struggles in form leading to his exclusion from the Indian cricket team and lacklustre performances in the Indian Premier League, Shaw showcased promise with a remarkable score of 159 against Chhattisgarh in only his second comeback match.
Further fueling optimism, he contributed 87 runs against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy semi-final. The pinnacle of this resurgence came in the final against Vidarbha, where Shaw notched up 46 runs in the first innings. However, his second-inning dismissal for 11, courtesy of Yash Thakur’s delivery sneaking through the gap between bat and pads, left Mumbai in a precarious position.
Social media echoed the disappointment, emphasizing Shaw’s recurring vulnerability to similar dismissals and a perceived lack of improvement over the past 3-4 years. Meanwhile, Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane defied the trend of poor scores, displaying resilience with an unbeaten 58 in the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha.
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Beauty 👌
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 11, 2024
Relive 📽️ Yash Thakur's brilliant delivery to dismiss Prithvi Shaw in the 2nd innings 🔥@IDFCFIRSTBank | #Final | #MUMvVID
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/k7JhkLhOID pic.twitter.com/6dNYyMcLWq
Rahane, seeking Mumbai’s record 42nd Ranji title, led the team to a commanding position with a 260-run lead at the close of day two. Partnering with the composed Musheer Khan, Rahane weathered the Vidarbha bowling attack, frustrating the opposition for over three hours. The Mumbai team, rebounding strongly after a modest 224-run total in the first innings, dismissed Vidarbha for 105, seizing a crucial 119-run lead.
Despite the early losses of openers Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani in the second innings, Rahane and Musheer’s meticulous partnership secured Mumbai’s advantage. Rahane, averaging just 12 runs this season, notched up only his second fifty of the tournament, finishing unbeaten on 58 off 109 balls.
Musheer, displaying disciplined batting, contributed an unbeaten 51 off 134 balls, further cementing Mumbai’s dominance as stumps were drawn at 141 for 2 in their second innings.
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