Yash Rathod scored an impressive 151 as Vidarbha posted 292 in their second innings, setting Mumbai a daunting target of 406 runs for the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final. Mumbai ended the day at 83 for 3, needing to achieve a record chase, as their captain Ajinkya Rahane fell quickly. Shivam Dube replaced Suryakumar Yadav at No. 5, with Akash Anand remaining unbeaten on 27. Vidarbha’s spinners dominated, with Harsh Dubey claiming critical wickets, while Shams Mulani took 6 for 85. Mumbai now faces a historic challenge to claim their 43rd title against Vidarbha’s substantial lead.
Mumbai 270 and 83 for 3 (Anand 27*, Dube 12*, Dubey 2-26) trailing Vidarbha 383 and 292 (Rathod 151, Mulani 6-85) by 323 runs
However, their task became significantly more difficult as they concluded the day in Nagpur at 73 for 3. Ajinkya Rahane, the captain, was dismissed in the last half hour. Instead of Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube came in at No. 5 to partner first-innings centurion Akash Anand. It remains uncertain if Suryakumar was dealing with a minor injury, as he was absent from the field for the entirety of Vidarbha’s batting innings.
All three wickets fell to the left-arm spinners. Harsh Dubey, who leads the season in wicket-taking and surpassed the 60-wicket landmark in the first innings, took down Mhatre and Lad. Parth Rekhade, who had instigated a massive collapse in the first innings by claiming Rahane, Suryakumar, and Dube in quick succession, dismissed Rahane with a delivery that kept low.
The highlight of Vidarbha’s day was Rathod’s impressive innings, as he expertly dismantled Mumbai’s bowling attack alongside Akshay Wadkar and later with Rekhade. Rathod and Wadkar rescued the innings from a precarious 56 for 4, contributing 158 runs before Wadkar’s wicket before lunch shifted the momentum again.
After diligently accumulating a half-century off 200 balls, Wadkar was bowled by a beautifully delivered ball from Shams Mulani, playing around the line of one that sharply turned. Soon after, Dubey and Darshan Nalkande fell to the spinners, indicating that the pitch was starting to favor spinners willing to target the rough patches created at both ends.
Rathod only began playing more aggressively once the No. 10 batsman was dismissed—this was fueled by the assurance of having a skilled partner like Rekhade, who had batted at No. 3 in the first innings, now coming in at No. 9. Rathod reached his milestone of 150 shortly before being the final wicket to fall, by which time their lead had surpassed 400. Mulani concluded with impressive figures of 6 for 85 following 44 overs.
With the new ball, Vidarbha immediately turned to their spinners. Dubey managed to extract turn and bounce off the rough, even as some deliveries kept low, contributing to all three dismissals. Overall, Anand, who recently scored a century in the first innings, looked solid and demonstrated a robust defense, remaining unbeaten on 27, while Dube stood at 12, as Mumbai aims to accomplish what has never been achieved before on the final day to chase title No. 43.