Ranji Trophy Final HIGHLIGHTS, Mumbai vs Vidarbha Day 5: Mumbai wins by 169 runs, clinches 42nd title

With the end of Ranji Trophy comes the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. That was it from our coverage in the final. You can stay tuned to Sportstar for all the news and updates as we gear up for the IPL. Cheers!

I would first like to appreciate Vidarbha, the way they fought in this match. It is not easy to chase 538. But they kept belief in the last innings. Really happy to see that. For us, it is a special moment. Last year, we could not qualify by one run. We knew we had the skills. But it was important to stay fit and set the tone in the dressing room. Ups and downs are a part of a career. I might have the least runs in the team but I’m happy we have the title. It is what matters the most. Personally, this is just a phase, you have to respect it and keep learning. We will celebrate tonight, then we’ll think about the road ahead. It’s been a long season. I would like to thank the backroom staff as well who worked so hard. What the players do everyone sees, but these guys keep the work going behind the scenes. I’ve been playing with Dhawal since U14. Whatever I say will not be enough. The way he’s helped the younger bowlers. His guidance has been crucial. Just wish him the best.

There can be an innings where you don’t click. The first innings is crucial in the big matches. If you dismiss a big team like Mumbai for 224, then you should bat well. Credit to them for bowling well. I think pitch was tough throughout but it needed a courageous innings like the Mumbai batters should. The partnership between Ajju da and Musheer took the game away from us. Today, we were trying to play ball-by-ball and frustrate them. We wanted to be careful in the first hour. We played like it was our last wicket. (The biggest positive) This year, we worked a lot on fielding. Atul Ranade sir worked on it every day. We took some good catches which turned the match for us. 

Start of the season, we wanted to improve on the runner up. Everyone wanted the title. It was a combined effort from all. Last year, I got confidence on my batting. I’ve worked a lot on my batting. Ajju da helped me a lot on how to score hundreds. I just want to keep working hard, and work with my coaches and senior players to constantly keep getting better.

This innings was very important for me. I just tried to stay out there for as long as possible and help my team. I enjoyed out in the middle with him (Rahane). We just tried to play with a straight bat. I’m proud to be in the Mumbai dugout. I’m elated for the 42nd title. Still a long road for me, I just want to focus on my process.

Very special. When I debuted, we won the Ranji Trophy. When we won in 15/16, we did not have too many seniors. I joined this team late but the boys have worked hard since June. I enjoy playing in challenging situations. I always want to get my team out of trouble. I think that is what I tried in the semifinal and the final. I think I was able to help the team help set the big target.

It is every cricketer’s dream to end with a high. This is my sixth final and the fifth title. I’ll never forget this day. A lovely gesture by Rahane to get me the final wicket. He told, ‘you’ve led us for so many years, do it once more’. I have learned so much from my seniors, I just tried to pass it on to my teammates now.

Kotian castles Yash Thakur. Nine down now.

Kulkarni returns to get the final wicket. MUMBAI WINS THE RANJI TROPHY FOR THE 42ND TIME! Umesh Yadav is the last man.

One more wicket for Deshpande. Sarwate falls. A bouncer banged into the surface rushes onto the right-hander. A top edge flies high and Rahane gets under the ball from mid wicket.

Aditya Sarwate c Rahane b Deshpande 3 (8)

Umesh Yadav is the new batter. Deshpande’s short ball barrage continues against the tail-enders too. SIX from Yash Thakur to end the over.

ANOTHER WICKET! Deshpande finally get Dubey with his short ball set up. Banged into the surface again, its rising on Dubey and angling into his body. He tries to flick it away on the on side. There’s a catcher in place just for that shot and he pouches it.

Harsh Dubey c Mulani b Deshpande 65 (128)

WICKET! Akshay Wadkar has been given LBW off Kotian. He goes for a review. He tries to glide the ball on the on side with soft hands but misses the line. He’s bang in front of the stumps and the review is gone.

Akshay Wadkar lbw b Kotian 102 (199)

Aditya Sarwate comes out despite his back problem.

HUNDRED FOR WADKAR! A simple tap to deep cover to get the single. What an innings by the captain in the need of the hour. Harsh Dubey picks a boundary off that over as well.

Seven runs from the Kotian over right after Lunch. Good rotation of strike by the pair, might just be their approach in this session. 

Vidarbha adds 85 runs in the morning session and ensures it still has five wickets in hand. Still 205 runs away but the pressure is just starting to pinch Mumbai a little. A standing ovation for Harsh Dubey and Akshay Wadkar as they walk off the field; their partnership is unbeaten on 110.

Tushar Deshpande called back to bowl now as Mumbai desperate for a breakthrough. Two fielders in the deep on the on side. Wadkar pulls but in the direction of deep square leg; one run. CHANCE! Deshpande’s bouncer forces Dubey to fend away. The ball takes the glove and is up for grabs but there is no fielder to collect it. 

The 100-run partnership comes up between this pair. Musheer strays onto the pads and Wadkar sends it on its way to fine leg for FOUR.

Musheer back into the attack. Harsh Dubey has been given leg before wicket. He’s going to review this. Tries to sweep it but the ball stays low and crashes into the pad. THERE’S AN INSIDE EDGE! Dubey survives.

Dubey’s charge continues against Mulani. He slog sweeps the left-arm spinner with the turn and picks a boundary. Gets to his fifty with a tap to long on. Just the second off his career.

SIX! Harsh Dubey makes full use of his levers and tonks an over-pitched delivery down the ground. That’s 300 up for Vidarbha.

Shams Mulani for the first time today. Wadkar late cuts the fourth delivery through third man. The backward point fielder stops a boundary and Wadkar gets two runs. A single to finish the over.

Two boundaries for Dubey in this Kulkarni over. The first is down the ground with a picture perfect drive. The second comes off an edge with the ball staying low and going past the second slip fielder.

Dhawal Kulkarni back into the attack. Appeal on the first delivery against Dubey. the umpire gives it not out and Mumbai has no reviews left. Dubey drives down the ground for two runs. The fourth delivery takes off from a good length and just misses the outside edge.

Mumbai loses all its review. The ball pops up into the silly point’s hands off Dubey’s pads. Mumbai thinks there is an inside edge too and goes up. The UltraEdge check shows the bat hit the pad and not the ball, and the final review is gone.

Shardul induces an edge from Dubey but the ball does not have enough in it to carry to the second slip fielder. The wait for Mumbai continues.

Kotian sends a delivery drifting on the pads and Dubey guides it down to fine leg. Shardul Thakur makes a long dart from his square position to cut the ball inside the rope and allow just two runs.

Tanush Kotian is pleading with Rahane to take a review after Wadkar miscues his paddle sweep. The 15 seconds expire before a consensus, perhaps good for Mumbai given the impact was outside the line. Two runs from the over, both off leg byes.

FOUR! Shardul bangs one in short and Wadkar pulls it away behind square. Wadkar flicks the penultimate delivery through mid wicket to pick three more.

Musheer Khan starts the day for Mumbai. Wadkar slashes through point to pick a single before Dubey picks another single to make it two runs from the over.

Akshay Wadkar is the last hope for Vidarbha, and the final hurdle for Mumbai. His wicket will decide the Ranji Trophy title. He resumes his day on 56 runs and will look to carry to a hundred and beyond. Harsh Dubey to give him company.

The KKR skipper was off field during day four. Is it going to be another injury setback for the batter?

Ranji Trophy Final: Shreyas Iyer stays off-field on Day 4 with back pain, to take field on last day

Barring Shreyas – the Kolkata Knight Riders – all the other KKR players will arrive in Kolkata ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024 on Thursday.

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Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Final: Karun Nair, Akshay Wadkar’s rearguard action helps Vidarbha put up fight

Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Final: Karun Nair and Akshay Wadkar made significant contributions as Vidarbha managed to hold the fort at the Wankhede Stadium for the whole day and stretch the game into the fifth day.

The live streaming of the Mumbai vs Vidarbha Ranji Trophy Final will be available on JioCinema from 9:20a.m.