Unprecedented series defeats against Sri Lanka and New Zealand have placed Gautam Gambhir under immense pressure barely three months into his appointment as the head coach of the Indian team.
A round-up of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
Three early strikes by pacer Rohan Raje and a four-wicket haul by spinner Iqbal Abdullah helped hosts Mumbai restrict Railways to 201 on day one of the Group A Ranji Trophy Elite division match.
Ajinkya Rahane might have endured a wretched run with the willow but he was the "happiest man" at the Wankhede on Thursday, having led Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title.
Ramesh Powar wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul as Mumbai skittled out Delhi for a meagre 211 to take a huge first innings lead of 289 runs on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final in Mumbai on Tuesday. A deadly spell of 5.3-3-9-5 by the India discard soon after lunch triggered a dramatic collapse, as Delhi, replying to Mumbai's huge first innings total of 500, lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 23 runs in 20.3 overs.
A summary of the third day's play in the Ranji Trophy Super League matches.
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
For MP, Saransh Jain, Kumar Kartikeya and Anubhav Agarwal also took two wickets apiece. MP got seven points from the win. The outright-winning team gets six points while a victory of an innings or 10-wickets fetches seven points.
Sachin Tendulkar will be the centre of attraction as 39-time champions Mumbai take on Services in the Ranji Trophy semi-final, at the Palam Airforce ground on Wednesday. The Ajit Agarkar-led side are overwhelming favourites, but the institutional side should not be counted out after their five-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh.
The team will be announced on Tuesday, September 24.
The Chandrakant Pandit-coached side lost opener Yash Dubey (9) cheaply after he was trapped in front of the wickets by pacer Mukesh Kumar (2/45).
Shaw's lack of attendance at crucial training sessions, particularly after poor performances, coupled with a lax approach to fitness, has alarmed the Mumbai team management and led to tough choices.
Suryakumar Yadav and Aditya Tare hit unbeaten half-centuries to put Mumbai in a commanding position against Madhya Pradesh on day three of the Ranji Trophy semi-final in Cuttack, on Monday.
Dhawal Kulkarni's composed 87, followed by three quick scalps by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar, put Mumbai within seven wickets of defending their Ranji Trophy crown. Karnataka, set a target of 338, were 135 for 3 at stumps on Day 3.
Former captain Wasim Jaffer made full use of an early reprieve to score 80 as hosts Mumbai reached 262 for seven against Bengal at stumps, on the first day of their Ranji Trophy group league match at the Brabourne Stadium.
Pankaj Dharmani played the sheet anchor's role to perfection and guided Punjab to a tense three-wicket victory over holders Mumbai.
At stumps on the second day, Mumbai were tottering at 121 for 6 in reply to Tamil Nadu's healthy first innings of 359, with only one specialist batsman left in Hiken Shah. Dhawal Kulkarni is other not-out batsman.
'Shreyas Iyer likes a challenge, tough situations, playing against the top teams.'
Hiken Shah smashed an unbeaten 118 while Aditya Tare (80) and Rohit Sharma (79) scored impressive half centuries to propel Mumbai to 360 for three in their first innings in reply to Rajasthan's 478 at stumps on day three of the Ranji Trophy Group A match in Jaipur on Sunday.
A summary of action from the Ranji Trophy matches played on Tuesday.
A surprise late night call from India captain Rohit Sharma alerted Shreyas Iyer about replacing Virat Kohli in Thursday's first ODI against England.
They may be playing in their first Ranji Trophy final in 75 years, and against a team that has 39 titles in its kitty, but Saurashtra aren't getting intimidated by their opponents' credentials. Instead, they are plotting to upset Mumbai's applecart in its own backyard, the Wankhede stadium.
Mumbai and Karnataka will meet in the final of the Ranji Trophy. Both made the grade by virtue of the first innings lead in the semi-finals against Delhi and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
Mumbai crushed Uttar Pradesh by 243 runs to clinch the Ranji Trophy for the 38th time at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad on Friday. Chasing a mammoth 525 for victory, UP were bowled for 281 in their second innings with Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni claiming five for 76.
Mumbai pipped Punjab by nine wickets, in Mumbai, on Saturday, on the fourth and final day of their concluding Ranji Trophy Elite Division league tie to rocket to the top of Group A with 25 points.
Mumbai grabbed a handsome 204-run first innings lead over Punjab and then put the visitors under pressure by reducing them to 203 for four on Day 3 of their four-day concluding Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Friday.
Rohit Sharma held the Mumbai innings together with an unbeaten 94, as the defending champions took a vital 61-run lead after scoring 248 for eight in their first essay, on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match against Railways in Delhi on Wednesday.
Riding on fine performances from veteran Ajit Agarkar and left-arm spinners Iqbal Abdulla and Harmeet Singh, Mumbai staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Himachal Pradesh by 85 runs in a Group A Super League Ranji Trophy match in Mumbai on Friday. The hosts, who were bundled out for a paltry 162 in the first innings, thereby conceding an 84-run lead, dismissed Himachal for 166 in 67 overs, 13 minutes before tea, after setting the visitors a target of 252 to win.
Sachin Tendulkar made a winning farwell from domestic cricket after his unbeaten half-century carried Mumbai to a four-wicket victory over Haryana in the opening match of the Ranji Trophy in Lahli, near Rohtak.
Riding on a 103-run second wicket partnership between Ravi Inder Singh (58) and Uday T Kaul (62), Punjab salvaged a draw against Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy Super League group A match in Chandigarh.
Dhapola's feat did not miss the attention of the BCCI secretary Jay Shah who termed it as one of the finest bowling performances of the tournament.
Hiken Shah and and Rohit Sharma smashed unbeaten centuries to propel Mumbai to 325 for two against Hyderabad at the end of the opening day's play in a Ranji Trophy Group A match in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Opener Wasim Jaffer has been appointed as captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for the 2009-2010 season and would lead the 38-time national champions in their season-opening Irani Cup clash against Rest of India at Nagpur from October 1-5.
India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar fetched a winning bid of Rs 10.75 crore from Royal Challengers Bengaluru on a largely predictable second day of the mega auction, in Jeddah on Monday.
Gaikwad's supporters argue that his exclusion underscores inconsistencies in selection, with some feeling this sends a discouraging message to players trying to climb the ranks through domestic achievements.
Mumbai held a slight advantage against Railways at stumps on day two after a gritty 110 from Suryakumar Yadav in the Ranji Trophy Group A match in Mysore on Sunday. Mumbai, resuming at an overnight 244 for five, went on to score 345 courtesy Yadav, who started the day on 60. Captain and leggie Karn Sharma led from the front for Railways, adding two wickets to his overnight tally to complete a five-wicket haul.
In an act of gamesmanship, pacers, right-arm quick Harshit Rana (1/27 in 3 overs) and left-arm seamer Kuldip Yadav (2/27 in 3 overs) also wasted time, either faking cramps or tying shoelaces or not delivering the ball even after completing the action.
Round up of the ranji matches being played on Tuesday.
A round-up of the second day's action of the Ranji Trophy Elite League matches from across the country.
Perhaps, that brave attitude keeps his India dream still burning bright without getting disheartened by the domestic grind.
