Shreyas Iyer to feature for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy semi-final. Tamil Nadu receives a boost as off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar and opener Sai Sudharsan return for their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Mumbai.
Mumbai’s strength has been significantly increased. India’s middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer reportedly joining the squad for their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu. Iyer had missed the tournament due to recurrent back spasms. Notably, Mumbai advanced to the semi-finals on Tuesday, February 27, after a draw with Baroda. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will now face Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals, which begin on March 2.
Iyer missed Mumbai’s last two Ranji Trophy games because of back pain while batting. In addition, he played in India’s first two Tests against England in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, scoring 35, 13, 27, and 29 respectively.
“Yes, Iyer has confirm to the Mumbai Cricket Association that he is fit and ready for Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semi-final match,” a source told The Times of India.
In the meantime, Tamil Nadu’s lineup has been significantly strengthen by the return of India’s off-spinning all-rounders Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan for the Ranji semi-final against Mumbai. According to a report in the Times of India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to remove Sundar from the Indian squad because the semi-final match will end on March 6 if it advances to the fifth day, and the fifth and final Test against England will begin on March 7 in Dharamshala. Sudharsan, on the other hand, was experiencing back spasms. The National Cricket Academy cleared him to play again, declaring him match-fit.
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Mumbai reach Ranji Trophy semi-final after playing a draw with Barod
The quarter-final match between Mumbai and Baroda at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai ended in a draw on Day 5. Even though the game ended in a tie, Mumbai’s lead in the first innings determined their advancement to the next round. Notably, Musheer Khan’s 203* helped Mumbai score 384 after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Meanwhile, Baroda’s Bharagav Bhat showed promise with a seven-wicket haul, while the economical Ninad Rathva took three. Baroda scored 348 runs in their first innings, thanks to Shashwat Rawat (124) and captain Vishnu Solanki (136). With left-arm orthodox Shams Mulani taking four crucial wickets.
Later on, opener Hardik Tamore fired all guns and stockpiled a solid 114 runs in the third innings. The match also saw a new record being set in the history of the Ranji Trophy. As Mumbai’s bowling spearheads Tushar Deshpande (123) and Tanush Kotian (120*) became only the second batting pair to score a century while batting at no. 10 and no. 11 in first-class cricket. Eventually, Mumbai scored 569, setting a target of 606. Bhatt was the hero in the third innings as well, having claimed his second seven-wicket haul in the same match. Meanwhile, Baroda’s opener Priyanshu Moliya scored a half-century in the final innings before the game ended in a draw.
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