Mumbai began their quest for Ranji Trophy title No. 42 with a thumping win over Bihar under a stand-in skipper when Ajinkya Rahane was indisposed for the opener at Patna in January. Now, that temporary skipper—Shams Mulani—is at hand to guide Mumbai to a triumph that has eluded them since 2015-16.

Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Mulani, 26, who has claimed 31 scalps and scored 290 runs in eight games, indicated that the players cannot wait for the ‘play’ signal against two-time champs Vidarbha at Wankhede on Sunday. “As a team, we are very eager and our basic goal is to lift the Ranji Trophy. I have played with Hardik [Tamore], Prasad [Pawar] and [Jay] Bista in all age groups and lifted a lot of trophies. The hard work we’ve put in through the season is paying off. One more game to go… it’s not over till it’s over,” Mulani told mid-day.