Mumbai in Control After Ajinkya Rahane Fifty in Ranji Trophy Final
Ajinkya Rahane had his tough times in domestic cricket after being left out national side but his fighting fifty on Monday provided a much-needed spark for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium.
The veteran batsman, known for his gritty knocks in challenging conditions, displayed his experience once again. Despite a lean patch this season with only 134 runs in 11 innings, Rahane’s fifty was met with a roar of approval from both the crowd and the dressing room.
“We celebrated like it was a hundred because we knew how important this small milestone is for him (Ajinkya Rahane),” said Mumbai allrounder Shams Mulani after the second day’s play. “Throughout his career, I don’t think Ranji Trophy fifties are that important for him with his stature.”
Mulani acknowledged the significance of Rahane’s innings in the context of the match. “But for us, for the team, for himself in this situation, it was very important that he stays on the wicket because his presence is much more important for us. And the way he batted as well, I think it was amazing,” he added.
My goal is to play 100 Tests for India”- Ajinkya Rahane
Mumbai currently enjoys a commanding lead of 350 runs. Musheer Khan is batting on 77 and Shreyas Iyer has approach to his century after being dismissed on 7 runs in first innings. However, Mulani remains cautious, refusing to get ahead of himself.
“We will bat along,” he said. “We obviously know that the wicket might deteriorate in the fourth innings – or it might help our bowlers, but we are just thinking of batting as much as possible. There is still a long way to go, and we are just looking right now to bat as much as possible.”
Meanwhile, Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur tried to maintain a positive outlook despite his team’s struggles.
“It is a long game, a five-day game,” he said. “We have a chance to come back, and we believe [that] we will come back in this game. It is a part of the game that we collapsed. We are chasing the game, but cricket is a funny game, and you can make a comeback anytime.”
The match remains delicately poised, with Mumbai in a strong position but Vidarbha still harboring hopes of a comeback. The coming days will be crucial in determining the winner of this year’s Ranji Trophy title.
