Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
Shams Mulani was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season with 44 scalps. He also scored 365 runs. The spin-bowling all-rounder was surprisingly overlooked for the multi-day games between India A and Australia A last month. Mulani’s response was a seven-for against Jammu and Kashmir that secured a 35-run win for Mumbai in Srinagar on Saturday. Chasing 243 for victory, Jammu and Kashmir were bundled out for 207 in their second innings.
In fact, it was Mulani’s game. He scored 91 in the first innings and added 159 runs with Siddhesh Lad for the fifth wicket to resurrect Mumbai’s batting. Then, he took a couple of wickets, as the visitors restricted Jammu and Kashmir to 325 to take a 61-run first-innings lead. As Mumbai folded up for 181 in their second innings, Mulani was the only batsman to return with some credit, scoring 41 off 108 balls. In the end, his runs also proved to be invaluable.
The fourth-innings target was gettable for the hosts. They had finished Day 3 on 22/1, needing another 221 runs on the final day to make it a hat-trick of wins against the 42-time champions. Mulani’s left-arm spin was the stumbling block. From Mumbai’s perspective, it was imperative to get rid of Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra. The latter was fresh from his century in the first innings, while Iqbal had gotten into the groove. The two added 53 runs for the third wicket and it felt like the game was slipping away from Mumbai.
Mulani castled the Dogra to give his team the much-needed breakthrough. He then breached Iqbal’s defence as well. As Mumbai clinched the victory, his figures read: 20.4-4-46-7. The choice for the Player-of-the-Match award was a formality.
Mulani prefers to look into the future. He knows that the selection would take its own course if he keeps performing. The next India A selection should have his name on the squad sheet.
Brief scores: Mumbai 386 and 181 beat Jammu and Kashmir 325 and 207 (Qamran Iqbal 56; Shams Mulani 7/46) by 35 runs
Points: Mumbai 6 Jammu and Kashmir 0
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz