Excitement builds in Mumbai cricket circles as Shardul Thakur and Yashasvi Jaiswal rejoin the Ranji Trophy squad for the quarter-final against Karnataka. Thakur steps in as captain, having overcome a nagging calf injury, while Jaiswal aims to rediscover his rhythm in first-class cricket after a brief hiatus.
Scheduled from February 6 at the MCA-BKC Ground, this blockbuster tie features Mumbai’s 42-time championship pedigree against Karnataka’s eight-title haul. The return of these key players injects fresh energy into a team eyeing another domestic crown.
Thakur’s all-round abilities and tactical acumen will be pivotal, especially after his recent net sessions showcased full fitness. Jaiswal, absent since his double-impact knocks of 67 and 156 versus Rajasthan in November 2023, brings explosive intent to the top order.
Karnataka’s arsenal, led by Devdutt Padikkal, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna, promises a fierce battle. Mumbai’s recent league outing against Delhi was marred by construction dust, forcing players to don masks—measures expected to improve for the playoffs.
Across the country, fans anticipate thrilling quarter-finals: Jharkhand-Uttarakhand in Jamshedpur’s Keenan Stadium, MP-J&K at Holkar Stadium in Indore, and Bengal-Andhra at Kalyani’s BCKA Ground.
Mumbai’s 16-member squad, captained by Thakur, features standouts like Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Siddhesh Lad, and wicketkeepers Akash Anand and Hardik Tamore, setting the stage for a memorable knockout phase.