Mumbai overcome Vidarbha resistance to be crowned Ranji Trophy champions for 42nd time 

Domestic giants Mumbai lifted the Ranji Trophy for the 42nd time by getting the better of a resolute Vidarbha by 169 runs on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy 2024 final at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Thursday, March 14.

Set a mammoth target of 538 for an improbable victory, Vidarbha resumed Day 5 on 248-5, with captain Akshay Wadkar batting on 56 and Harsh Dubey on 11. The duo kept Mumbai at bay and batted with determination, taking the score to 353 when the bowling side finally struck.

The sixth-wicket partnership of 130 was broken by Tanush Kotian (4-95), who got one to straighten a bit from round the stumps and trapped Wadkar (102) lbw when the batter closed the face of the bat but missed the ball.

Wadkar put up a brave resistance for his side, occupying the crease for 320 minutes and facing 199 deliveries. The Vidarbha captain’s determined effort featured nine fours and a six.

The other set batter, Dubey (65), also perished soon after, bounced out by Tushar Deshpande (2-53).

The batter offered a catch to short backward square leg, where Shams Mulani did not make a mistake. Dubey batted for a little under 200 minutes and faced 199 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes.

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Mumbai run through Vidarbha lower order after Wadkar, Dubey dismissals

There was not much resistance from the lower order, as Vidarbha were bowled out for 368 in 134.3 overs.

Aditya Sarwate (3) mistimed a hook off Deshpande and was caught by Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane, moving across to his left from mid-on. Yash Thakur (6) was then knocked over by a full ball from Kotian when he missed his sweep.

In a fairy-tale finish, retiring pacer Dhawal Kulkarni (1-38) cleaned up Umesh Yadav (6) with a full delivery as Mumbai celebrated yet another Ranji Trophy triumph.

Vidarbha, earlier, had batted with plenty of resolve in their second innings but paid the price for a poor batting effort in the first innings. After winning the toss and bowling first in the Ranji Trophy 2024 final, Vidarbha had reduced Mumbai to 111-6, but Shardul Thakur’s 75 lifted Mumbai to 224.

In response, Vidarbha were bundled out for 105 in 45.3 overs, with Kotian, Mulani and Kulkarni claiming three scalps apiece. Mumbai then notched up 418 in their second innings to essentially bat Vidarbha out of the Ranji Trophy 2024 final.