Shardul Thakur’s Heroics in Vain as Jammu & Kashmir Beat Mumbai After 10 Years

On January 25, Jammu & Kashmir achieved a historic victory over Mumbai. They defeated Mumbai by five wickets in the Ranji Trophy at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. This marks J&K’s first win over Mumbai in more than a decade. Their last one came in 2014 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Shardul Thakur’s valiant 119 in the second innings went in vain as J&K successfully chased down a target of 205 on Day 3.

Also Read: Noman Ali Makes History: First Pakistani Spinner to Take a Test Hat-Trick

J&K’s Clinical Chase

Jammu & Kashmir’s top order laid a solid foundation in the chase. Shubham Khajuria (45), Yawer Hassan (24), and Vivrant Sharma (34) contributed crucial runs. In the end, Abid Mushtaq’s aggressive 44 off 37 balls and Kanhaiya Wadhawan’s composed knock sealed the game for the visitors.

Rohit Sharma’s Underwhelming Comeback

India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma made a much-anticipated return to Ranji cricket after nine years. However, he failed to make an impact. Dismissed for a single-digit score in the first innings, he managed only a 35-ball 28 in the second. Despite hitting a few sixes and fours, his innings was cut short by Yudhvir Singh.

Shardul Thakur’s Heroics

Mumbai’s batting collapsed in both innings, leaving them heavily reliant on Shardul Thakur. In the first innings, his fighting fifty helped Mumbai cross 100. In the second, he scored a magnificent 119 off 135 balls, including 18 boundaries. Alongside Tanush Kotian (62), Thakur ensured Mumbai set a target of 205.

J&K’s bowlers were exceptional throughout. Umar Nazir and Yudhvir Singh picked up four wickets each in the first innings, while Mushtaq and Nazir struck crucial blows in the second.

A Decade-Long Wait Ends

The last time J&K beat Mumbai was in 2014 at Wankhede Stadium. Interestingly, Khajuria was a key player in both matches. He scored a century and a crucial 78 in that game. Interestingly, Umar Nazir, who starred with the ball in this match, was also instrumental in their 2014 victory.

For Mumbai, this loss raises questions about their middle-order performance, with players like Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shivam Dube failing to deliver.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp,Facebook, Twitter, Telegram,  and Instagram