Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw’s bat remained silent once again in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. Falling victim to a stunning delivery by Yash Thakur on Day 2 of the highly anticipated summit clash at the Wankhede Stadium, Shaw’s woes compounded further. After missing his half-century in the first innings and being dismissed for 46, he could only muster 11 runs in the second innings.
In a cruel twist of fate, Shaw’s dismissal in the second innings mirrored his past failures, as his high backlift and an attempted drive saw a gap between bat and pad exploited by Thakur’s delivery, which breached his defence to rattle the stumps. This early breakthrough provided Vidarbha with the impetus they needed in the second innings.
This wasn’t the first time Shaw found himself dismissed in such a manner. Earlier, during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ricky Ponting had predicted a similar outcome for him, a prediction that came to fruition when Mitchell Starc castled him in the first Test.
Criticism poured in from cricket enthusiasts on social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), chastising Shaw for failing to rectify his recurring technical flaw over the past four years.
Following Shaw’s departure, his opening partner Bhupen Lalwani also fell prey to the Vidarbha bowling attack, with spinner Harsh Dubey sending him back to the pavilion for a modest score of 18 runs from 38 deliveries.
Earlier in the match, Mumbai’s bowlers showcased their prowess by dismantling Vidarbha’s batting lineup, restricting them to a paltry 105 runs in response to Mumbai’s 224 in the first innings. Resuming their innings on Day 2 at 31/3, Vidarbha found themselves reeling as Mumbai’s bowling unit hunted in a pack. The spin duo of Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian wreaked havoc, removing the middle-order batsmen in quick succession, firmly placing Mumbai in the driver’s seat.
Despite the setbacks in the batting department, Mumbai’s skipper Ajinkya Rahane and the young Musheer Khan rose to the occasion, crafting unbeaten fifties that propelled Mumbai to a commanding position by the end of Day 2. With Rahane notching up 58 runs from 109 deliveries and Musheer contributing a gritty 51 from 135 deliveries, Mumbai ended the day with a substantial 260-run lead, posting a total of 141/2 on the scoreboard.
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The Ranji Trophy final has not only showcased the contrasting fortunes of individual players but also underscored the importance of resilience and adaptability in the highly competitive arena of domestic cricket. As Shaw grapples with his recurring technical deficiencies, Mumbai’s collective effort and the stellar performances of Rahane and Musheer offer a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of championship glory. However, for Shaw, the disappointment of unfulfilled promise continues to linger, serving as a stark reminder of the relentless nature of the sport and the ever-present quest for improvement.
| M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 5 | 9 | 1 | 339 | 134 | 42.38 | 394 | 86.04 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 2 |
| ODI | 6 | 6 | 0 | 189 | 49 | 31.5 | 166 | 113.86 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| T20I | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 71 | 71 | 0 | 1694 | 99 | 23.86 | 1162 | 145.78 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 208 | 56 |
