Mumbai clinches 42nd Ranji Trophy title after 8-long-years

For eight years Mumbai cricket waited for Ranji Trophy title No 41 to move a notch That wait ended at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday when Ajinkya Rahanersquos Mumbai team were crowned kings of domestic redball cricket again after beating Vidarbha by 169 runsRahane tried all his options and implemented different tactics but it was offspinner Tanush Kotian 495 who got the prized scalp of Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar who scored a fighting 102 9x4 1x6Also Read Positively brilliant teamWadkarDubey resistanceThough the Mumbai bowlers needed 255 balls to break Wadkar and Harsh Dubeyrsquos 130run sixth wicket partnership it took only a short while to dismiss the remaining four batsmen and emerge triumphant Shreyas Iyer Shardul Thakur and Dhawal Kulkarni were also part of Mumbairsquos 201516 triumph when Aditya Tarersquos team beat Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs at PuneldquoThis victory means a lot to us It is very special Around 10 Mumbai players are representing India across formats which is a very good sign We all are happy for the guys from Mumbai who are representing India right nowrdquo Rahane told reporters on Thursday Rahane credited head coach Omkar Salvi for guiding and motivating the team during this journey ldquoHe Salvi made a massive difference credit goes to him Our journey as a team started in June 2023 Omkar focused on fitness creating a great culture in the team giving freedom to all players not only on the field but off the field as well When someone is not doing well you have to back that individualrdquo Rahane saidAlso Read IN PHOTOS Highest run scorers for Mumbai Indians in the history of IPLOmkar the elder brother of exIndia bowler and current Punjab head coach Avishkar was Mumbairsquos bowling coach during the 201516 victory campaign ldquoI think my coaching philosophy is very simple We have to empower players give them freedom We are there to support them We have to provide a good environment for them I think our selectors played a major role in providing that security to the playersrdquo Salvi remarkedWorthy farewell for DhawalPacer Kulkarni who was playing his last game for Mumbai claimed 315 in the first innings and clean bowled the visitorsrsquo last batsman Umesh Yadav ldquoWinning a final in a tough way is what you want and thatrsquos what we did as a team We hung on to our nerves put pressure and bowled really well You could call it bowling in partnershiphellip thatrsquos what we didrdquo Kulkarni saidVidarbha 2485 overnight didnrsquot give up Wadkar stayed unbeaten on 92 at lunch with Dubey on 57 Wadkar later got his century with a single off Kotian through the covers for his ninth firstclass hundred in 51 games his second in a Ranji final 133 versus Delhi in the 201718 summit clash which Vidarbha won by nine wickets in Indore Finally Kotian broke the partnership when he trapped Wadkar leg before which changed the equation in favour of hostsThe triumphant Mumbai team are well rewarded Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Ajinkya Naik said ldquoThe MCA will pay an additional sum of R5 crore to the winning Mumbai team It has been a great year for the MCA as the association has won seven titles and we have made it to the knockout stage in all age groups in BCCI tournamentsrdquoRs 10crMCA adds Rs 5 crore to BCCIrsquos prize money of Rs 5 crore swelling Mumbairsquos kittyBrief scoresMumbai 224 amp 418 beat Vidarbha 105 amp 368 A Wadkar 102 K Nair 74 H Dubey 65 A Taide 32 A Mokhade 32 T Kotian 495 M Khan 248 T Deshpande 253 by 169 runs