Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Mumbai reduces Himachal to 94-7 after posting mammoth total of 446 on Day 2
Forced to settle for draws, Mumbai stumbled in its last two Ranji Trophy outings after a winning start against Jammu and Kashmir. Coming into the fourth-round fixture against Himachal Pradesh, the domestic powerhouse looked determined to secure an outright win and get its campaign back on track.
At the MCA-BKC ground on Sunday, Mumbai inched closer to getting back to winning ways in a Group D clash as it put Himachal Pradesh on the mat, restricting it to 94 for 7 after putting up 446.
As the surface offered some turn, Mumbai off-spinner Himanshu Singh tightened the noose with three quick wickets after fast bowlers Tushar Deshpande and captain Shardul Thakur reduced Himachal to 18 for 3 at Tea.
Himachal captain Ankush Bains exuded confidence ahead of the game, but none of the Himachal batters could show resilience against Mumbai’s bowling lineup.
While it will be a herculean task for Himachal to avoid the follow-on and come back stronger in the second innings, Mumbai will be hoping to keep the momentum going and grab those crucial six points, and even aim for a bonus.
While the bowlers played their roles to perfection, Shams Mulani (69, 122b, 9×4) brought up his 21st First-Class fifty as Mumbai resumed the day at 289 for 5, and went on to add 157 runs to its tally.
Centurion Siddhesh Lad added 27 runs to his overnight score of 100 before falling to left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar (four for 111). But with all-rounder Shams and Deshpande, known for their cameos batting lower down the order, once again stepping up, Mumbai managed to flex its muscles.
After a dull away game against Rajasthan in Jaipur, Mumbai bowlers found their mojo on a familiar turf as a relatively inexperienced Himachal let it slip.
Published on Nov 09, 2025
