Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shams Mulani Stars as Mumbai Thump Odisha; KS Bharat’s Heroics Help Andhra Draw with Uttarakhand

Mumbai recorded a commanding victory over Odisha, winning by an innings and 103 runs in their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Group A clash at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC on November 9. Resuming Day 4 at 126-5, Odisha could only manage 214 in their second innings. Shams Mulani, the left-arm spinner, delivered a match-winning performance, taking 5-71 in the second innings to add to his first-innings haul of six wickets. Earlier, Shreyas Iyer had starred with the bat, scoring a mammoth 233 to set up Mumbai’s dominant display.

Andhra and Uttarakhand Settle for a Draw

In a Group B match at Vizianagaram, Andhra and Uttarakhand played out a draw. Andhra, chasing a target of 321, began the final day at 8-1. Despite resilient half-centuries from Karan Shinde (65) and Hanuma Vihari (66), it was KS Bharat who stole the show with an aggressive 92 off 90 balls. His innings, laced with 12 fours and a six, brought Andhra close, but they ended on 286-6, settling for a hard-fought draw.

Tamil Nadu vs Assam Ends in a Stalemate

In Guwahati, the Group C encounter between Tamil Nadu and Assam ended in a draw. Tamil Nadu, starting their second innings on Day 4 at 8-0, finished comfortably on 217-2. Narayan Jagadeesan played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 118, while Pradosh Ranjan Paul supported him with 68 not out.

Other Key Results:

1. Vidarbha vs Himachal Pradesh (Nagpur, Group B)
   • Vidarbha cruised to an innings and 88-run victory over Himachal Pradesh, marking their fourth consecutive win. Spinner Harsh Dubey starred with 5-71 and 6-36 in the match, while batsmen Yash Rathod (128) and Dhruv Shorey (125) laid a solid foundation.
2. Chandigarh vs Delhi (Group D)
   • Chandigarh defeated Delhi by nine wickets. Chasing 203, Shivam Bhambri scored a match-winning century, remaining unbeaten on 100, alongside Arslan Khan’s 68.
3. Services vs Maharashtra (Pune)
   • Services secured a thrilling 35-run win against Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s skipper Ankit Bawne fought valiantly with 94 not out, but Pulkit Narang‘s 6-87 and Amit Shukla‘s combined match figures of 11-159 sealed the win for Services.
4. Kerala vs Uttar Pradesh (Thumba)
   • Kerala thrashed Uttar Pradesh by an innings and 117 runs, thanks to Jalaj Saxena’s incredible performance, picking up 11 wickets across both innings.

Summary of Other Matches:

• Baroda and Tripura played to a draw in Agartala.
• Jharkhand vs Saurashtra ended in a draw in Ranchi.
• Bengal took three points against Karnataka in Bengaluru, securing a first-innings lead.

The Ranji Trophy’s opening fixtures showcased strong individual performances, with players like Shams Mulani, KS Bharat, and Harsh Dubey making a significant impact early in the season. As the tournament progresses, teams will look to build on these results and strive for a spot in the knockout stages.