Shardul Thakur’s Hat-Trick Boosts Mumbai’s Knockout Hopes as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Face Uncertainty

Day 1 of the final round of Ranji Trophy group-stage matches was filled with drama, with intense action unfolding across multiple venues, including Rajkot, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur. While Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket at the Arun Jaitley Stadium grabbed headlines, other fixtures provided their own share of twists and turns.

Group A: Mumbai Pile Pressure on Baroda and J&K

Mumbai wasted no time asserting their dominance over Meghalaya at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, with Shardul Thakur stealing the spotlight with a stunning hat-trick. With a crucial seven points almost secured, Mumbai’s qualification hopes received a further boost from Vadodara, where Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir are locked in a must-win contest.

Both Baroda and J&K only need a draw to advance to the knockouts, but one of them now faces the risk of missing out. J&K, batting first after winning the toss, posted 246, led by wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan’s 71, while Paras Dogra (43) and Vivrant Sharma (43) added vital middle-order runs. Left-arm spinner Ninad Rathva was the standout bowler for Baroda, claiming five wickets, while off-spinner Mahesh Pithiya chipped in with three.

In response, Baroda ended the day at 29/2. With time on their side, their challenge now is to secure a first-innings lead and take control of the match.