Shardul Thakur, the Mumbai all-rounder affectionately known as “Lord Shardul,” proved his nickname was well-deserved as he rescued Mumbai from the brink of a humiliating collapse in their Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy.
In the second innings, Thakur smashed his second First-Class century off just 105 balls, celebrating the milestone passionately. His exuberant celebration underscored the significance of his knock for Mumbai in this crucial game.
Despite a steady start from Indian internationals Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, Mumbai’s batting line-up quickly crumbled under pressure. From a solid 54-1, they slipped to 91-6 in just 13 overs, as Jammu and Kashmir’s bowlers dominated. Mumbai’s situation worsened when they lost their last reliable batter, captain Ajinkya Rahane, leaving them in dire straits and forcing Shardul Thakur to step in.
Thakur, who had already saved Mumbai from a potential collapse in the first innings with a gritty 51, once again stood tall. Alongside Tanush Kotian, he played with remarkable composure, turning the tide for Mumbai. The pair put on an impressive 173* runs from 234 balls for the eighth wicket, making it look as though they were batting on a different pitch altogether.
💯 for Shardul Thakur 🙌🙌
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 24, 2025
A crucial knock under pressure 👏
The celebrations say it all 👌#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/oYXDhqotjO pic.twitter.com/o3XQIjzRAH
By the close of play, the 33-year-old all-rounder had reached 113* while Kotian supported with an unbeaten 58. Their partnership helped Mumbai reach 274/7 at stumps, with a healthy lead of 188 runs. The duo has made the game evenly poised, and they will be looking to add more runs in the opening session of Day 3.