Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul Thakur's Late Fight Goes in Vain as Vidarbha Beat Mumbai to Seal Final Berth

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul Thakur's fighting fifty went in vain on Friday (February 21) as record champions Mumbai fell to Vidarbha by 80 runs in the Ranj Trophy semifinal match which took place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur.

Shardul, who has often been Mumbai's saviour with the bat this season in the Ranji Trophy, once again was shouldered with the responsibility of seeing the team home in the fourth innings run-chase of 406, but the pace-bowling all-rounder could only manage 66 off 124 balls as the record champions folded for 325.

Walking in to bat at number 8 after Harsh Dubey had run through the top order leaving Mumbai at 124 for 6, Thakur shared a 103-run stand with Shams Mulani (46 off 94 balls) to keep their team alive in the contest on the final day's play of the Ranji semi-final.

Tanush Kotian also chipped in with 26 before the last-wicket 52-run stand between tailenders Mohit Avasthi (34 off 43 balls) and Royston Dias (23 off 26 balls) began to frustrate Vidarbha heading into tea with 89 runs required for a Mumbai win.

However, Harsh Dubey ended the partnership and completed his five-wicket haul with the dismissal of Avasthi just after the tea break to help Vidarbha avenge last season's final defeat and reach their fourth Ranji Trophy final. Vidarbha were victorious in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, while they finished runners up in 2023-24 season, losing to Mumbai in the final.

Akshay Wadkar's side will now clash with history-making Kerala for the title next week. Kerala reached their first Ranji Trophy final after beating the odds to take a meagre 2-run lead against Gujarat and sealed their title clash against Vidarbha with a drawn match on Friday (February 21).

Earlier, Yash Rathod's 151 (252 balls, 11 fours) and a dogged half-century from skipper Akshay Wadkar (52 off 202 balls, 5×4) took Vidarbha to 292 all out after resuming the day at 147 for four.

Having already amassed a huge lead of 113 runs in the first essay, Vidarbha were able to set a huge target of 406. But Mumbai's reply did not inspire much confidence as they were reduced to 89/3 at stumps on day 4.

Ayush Mhatre (18), Siddhesh Lad (2) and Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane (12) perished against spin bowling as Vidarbha tightened the screws on the visitors here at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, setting themselves up to avenge their loss in the Ranji Trophy final last season.

Akash Anand, whose 106 was the only bright spot for Mumbai in the first innings, once again made a fine effort making 27 not out off 92 balls with one four. At the other end, Shivam Dube was batting on 12.

Mumbai were pinning their hopes on the likes of India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani to produce a rearguard on the final day. But Suryakumar did not come to the party once again as the teams batting unit failed to step up in the crucial clash.