• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Watch Mi Star Changes The Course Of Irani Trophy Dismisses Easwaran And Jurel With A Unique Strategy

[Watch] MI Star Changes The Course Of Irani Trophy; Dismisses Easwaran And Jurel With A Unique Strategy

Dhruv Jurel and Abhimanyu Easwaran were dismissed by Shams Mulani [Source: Screen grab from @BCCIdomestic/x.com]Dhruv Jurel and Abhimanyu Easwaran were dismissed by Shams Mulani [Source: Screen grab from @BCCIdomestic/x.com]

Mumbai, the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 champions, are in a gripping battle with the Rest Of India in the Irani Trophy 2024. The match is at a fascinating point, with the Rest Of India showing remarkable resilience in response to Mumbai's formidable 537 in the first innings. 

The Rest Of India won the toss in this game and opted to field first. The bowlers of the Rest Of India started off well and had Mumbai in trouble at 6/2 inside the first three overs. Mumbai started to fight back, with Ajinkya Rahane leading from this stage.

Rahane started the repair work for Mumbai

A 102-run partnership between Rahane and Shreyas Iyer stabilised the proceedings for the team. Rahane then combined with Sarfaraz Khan to stitch another 100-plus partnership and bail the team out of trouble. The Mumbai skipper missed a well-deserved hundred as he was dismissed on 97. 

Sarfaraz Khan played a stellar knock for Mumbai

Despite Rahane's dismissal, Sarfaraz Khan continued his good work and scored a brilliant double-hundred. Sarfaraz scored an unbeaten 222 off 286 deliveries and was the fulcrum for the team's mammoth 537 in the first innings. 

In reply to Mumbai's huge total, the Rest of India did not have a strong start as they lost their skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, pretty early in the innings. But Abhimanyu Easwaran held on for the team and built a stellar innings. Dhruv Jurel joined him at the fall of the fourth wicket, and the duo bailed the team out of pressure and gradually guided the team towards an important first-innings lead. 

Shams Mulani negative line strategy for the two set batters



The duo had put on a 165-run partnership when Mumbai's left-arm spinner Shams Mulani devised a unique strategy. He came over the wicket and started bowling a negative line at the leg stump. The two batters who were moving on steadily were strangled by the line as they were not able to rotate the strike freely. 

The persistence on the line forced out casual shots from both the set batters. Jurel, at 93, and Abhimanyu Easwaran, at 191, lost their wickets to careless shots in two consecutive overs of Mulani, and it completely changed the complexion of the game. 

At the time of writing, lunch was called for Day 4. The rest of India is currently stationed at 400/6 and is trailing by 137 runs.