The Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir, held at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in BKC, Mumbai, witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Friday, January 24. A contentious dismissal of Mumbai batter Shreyas Iyer became the flashpoint, leading to a heated exchange between the Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer on one side and the on-field umpires on the other.
The incident occurred during the 22nd over of Mumbai’s second innings when Iyer, batting fluently on 17 runs off 15 deliveries, was adjudged caught behind by wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan off the bowling of Auqib Nabi. While the Jammu & Kashmir players celebrated, Iyer and Rahane voiced strong objections, questioning the validity of the catch. Rahane, visibly agitated, engaged in an animated discussion with the umpires, a moment captured in photos is now going viral.
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In his brief stay at the crease, Shreyas Iyer displayed his usual flair, striking four boundaries and scoring 17 runs off 16 balls before falling as Mumbai’s fourth wicket. His dismissal added to the team’s struggles, as they attempted to recover from a shaky start in their second innings.
Earlier in the innings, the Mumbai openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal had shown promise with a steady 54-run partnership. Rohit, mixing aggression with elegance, smashed two fours and three sixes in his 28 off 35 balls. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed 26 runs off 51 balls, was next to depart, edging a delivery from former Mumbai Indians pacer Yudhvir Singh Charak into the hands of Yawer Hassan at gully.
The middle order faltered under pressure. Hardik Tamore managed just a solitary run before becoming Yudhvir’s second victim. Iyer and Rahane steadied the ship briefly with a 29-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, Shreyas Iyer’s controversial exit just before lunch left Mumbai reeling. Shivam Dube, who followed at No. 6, had a forgettable outing, dismissed for a four-ball duck, marking his second failure in the match.
Mumbai’s batting lineup has faced significant challenges in this contest. Earlier in the first innings, neither Jaiswal nor Rohit could contribute significantly, managing only 4 and 3 runs, respectively. Their second-innings starts offered a glimmer of hope, but the inability to convert them into substantial scores put the team in a precarious position.
As the match progresses, Mumbai will need a remarkable effort from their lower order to turn the tide. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal continues to dominate discussions, adding another layer of intrigue to this high-stakes encounter.
