‘We celebrated like it was a hundred’ – Shams Mulani on Rahane’s gritty Ranji Trophy final fifty

Ajinkya Rahane (Photo Source – Twitter/X)

In a recent turn of events that had Mumbai cricket fans on the edge of their seats, skipper Ajinkya Rahane, known for his resilience, showcased a stellar performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023/24 final against Vidarbha.

Despite a season plagued by a shortage of runs, Rahane’s bat came alive on Day 2, scoring a crucial half-century that left his team in a commanding position at Stumps. Shams Mulani, the left-arm spinner for Mumbai, expressed the team’s jubilation at Rahane’s significant knock and said that they celebrated like it was a hundred because they knew how important that small milestone was for Rahane.

“We celebrated like it was a hundred because we knew how important this small milestone was for him. For the team, for himself, in this situation, it was very important that he stays on the wicket,” Mulani revealed during a post-match interaction with reporters, as quoted by The Sportstar.

Another standout performer for Mumbai was the seasoned fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni, playing his final first-class game. Kulkarni’s emotional outing featured impressive figures of 3/15, contributing significantly to Vidarbha’s meagre total of 105. Mulani shed light on the emotional rollercoaster the experienced pacer and his teammates experienced.

Sarfaraz told the dressing room that what others do, this guy can do much better than that: Mulani

Youngster Musheer Khan, who seamlessly transitioned into top-level first-class cricket, played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s journey to the final. After a sensational double hundred in the quarterfinals against Baroda, Musheer’s crucial half-century on Day 2 of the final further solidified Mumbai’s innings alongside Rahane.

“Last year, when Musheer made his debut, Sarfaraz told the dressing room that what others do, this guy can do much better than that. He knew what (kind of) character Musheer is -the gritty character that he is. He has shown that, coming into the knockouts from the (U-19) World Cup,” Mulani added.

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The dynamic partnership of 130 runs between Musheer and Rahane finally met its end when the Mumbai captain departed for 73 on Day 3. However, with a lead exceeding the 300-run mark and seven wickets in hand, Mumbai are well-positioned to bat Vidarbha out of the contest, making this final an unforgettable chapter in Ranji Trophy history.