Ranji Trophy final: Rohit Sharma spends 20 minutes with Mumbai players, Sachin Tendulkar also in attendance at Wankhede | Cricket News
India captain and home boy Rohit Sharma, three days after wrapping up a 4-1 series win over England, landed at the Wankhede and gave a pep talk to Mumbai players during their Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. Also present at the venue was the legendary Sachin Tendulkar who had come to watch the proceedings.
“He (Rohit) came and met players during the Ranji Trophy finals and spent 20 minutes with them. The MCA had taken permission from the anti corruption officer and he was allowed to meet the Mumbai players,” MCA honorary secretary Ajinkya Naik told The Indian Express.
Over the last few days, a host of Mumbai stalwarts, including Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar had come to watch the game unfold. The record champions have been on a trophy drought, having last won the premier domestic tournament title in the 2015-16 season. Since then, they have lost twice in the final. But this time around, they are in the driver’s seat to claim their 42nd title, having set Vidarbha an imposing total of 538 runs.
Look who’s here!#TeamIndia Captain Rohit Sharma witnessing the #RanjiTrophy summit clash 👌🏻👌🏻@ImRo45 | #RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #Final | #MUMvVID
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/k7JhkLhOID pic.twitter.com/CIP1KGkENF
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 12, 2024
On Tuesday, Tendulkar heaped praises on Musheer Khan and Shreyas Iyer as well as Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane for playing their parts in helping Mumbai dominate Vidarbha the final.
“Mumbai displayed a lot more discipline, patience and commitment in the second innings. First, a crucial partnership between @ajinkyarahane88 and Musheer Khan put Mumbai in a solid position. Then, Musheer’s stand with @ShreyasIyer15 has taken the game further away from Vidarbha. Had a good time watching the game today with my friends and colleagues. @MumbaiCricAssoc,” the master blaster posted in X.
Mumbai displayed a lot more discipline, patience and commitment in the second innings.
First, a crucial partnership between @ajinkyarahane88 and Musheer Khan put Mumbai in a solid position. Then, Musheer’s stand with @ShreyasIyer15 has taken the game further away from Vidarbha.… pic.twitter.com/pq76C421mO
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 12, 2024
In the match, Musheer had slammed a 255-ball hundred at the Wankhede Stadium to become the youngest Mumbai batter to record a century in the Ranji Trophy final, surpassing Tendulkar.
Having taken a 119-run lead in the first-innings, Mumbai set out to bat again on Day 2 with Musheer and skipper Ajinkya Rahane braving a top-order wobble as openers Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lelwani fell early. The pair took the score overnight to 141 for two with both securing their half-centuries.
Resuming on Day 3, number three Musheer kept piling on the runs with Shreyas Iyer after Rahane’s dismissal on 73. Musheer reached his second First-Class ton in three matches in the 90th over.
