Last Updated on February 11, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
February 11, 2025: In an exciting round of quarter-finals in the Ranji Trophy, Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Gujarat all booked their spots in the semi-finals, while Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu were eliminated from the competition.
The first quarter-final saw defending champions Mumbai make a spectacular recovery after a shaky start against Haryana. Despite being bundled out for just 113/7 in their first innings, Mumbai’s lower order, led by Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani, staged a remarkable comeback. Their 165-run partnership for the eighth wicket helped Mumbai post a competitive total of 315. Haryana, despite a brilliant 136-run knock from skipper Ankit Kumar, failed to capitalize on their strong start and ended their first innings just 15 runs behind.
In Mumbai’s second innings, Ajinkya Rahane played a captain’s knock, scoring a blistering century, while Suryakumar Yadav (70) and Shivam Dube (48) added valuable contributions to set a daunting target of 354 for Haryana. In reply, Haryana faltered early and were reduced to 60/5. Though Lakshay Dalal (64) and Sumit Kumar (62) showed resilience, Haryana’s efforts were insufficient as they were bowled out for 301, handing Mumbai a 152-run victory.
In the second quarter-final, Vidarbha dominated Tamil Nadu with an impressive all-round performance. After Karun Nair’s century helped Vidarbha post 353 in their first innings, Tamil Nadu struggled to reach 225 in response. Vidarbha then piled on more runs, with Yash Rathod’s rollicking century setting Tamil Nadu a mammoth 401-run target. Tamil Nadu’s chase was never in sight, and they were bowled out for just 202, resulting in a 198-run loss for the southern team.
Gujarat were ruthless in the third quarter-final, as they put on a dominant performance against Saurashtra. After dismissing Saurashtra for just 216 in their first innings, Gujarat’s Urvil Patel (140) and Jaymeet Manishbhai Patel (103) led an aggressive charge, taking Gujarat to 511, and setting Saurashtra a steep 295-run deficit. Saurashtra’s second innings also failed to get off the ground, and they were eventually dismissed for 216, losing by an innings and 98 runs. It was an emotional moment for Saurashtra’s star player Sheldon Jackson, who played his final professional game, ending his career with 7283 runs in 174 innings, including 21 centuries.
As the semi-finals approach, Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Gujarat will look to continue their dominant run, while Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir battle for the final spot. The upcoming semi-finals promise to be thrilling contests as the race for the prestigious Ranji Trophy heats up.
