Ranji Trophy: Shreyas Iyer fails vs Baroda, N Jagadeesan hits hundred vs Saurashtra

RanjI Trophy 2024-25: Shreyas Iyer began his season on a poor note, getting out for 0 in Mumbai's first innings against Baroda. Narayan Jagadeesan led Tamil Nadu's strong show against Saurashtra.

In Short

• Shreyas Iyer failed to trouble the scorers in the first innings for Mumbai
• Mumbai's battiing unit struggled against Baroda in their away game
• Tamil Nadu dominated Saurashtra in Coimbatore on Saturday

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer continued to falter in first-class cricket. The senior batter was dismissed for a 0 in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy 2024-25 opening round against Baroda at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Iyer was not the only big name to fail in the Mumbai batting line-up as the defending champions began their first-round game on a shaky note.

After Baroda posted 290 in the first innings, riding fifties from wicketkeeper Mitesh Patel and Atit Sheth, Mumbai lost opener Prithvi Shaw early. The young opener, who hit 76 in the second innings of the Irani Cup earlier in October, was undone by Krunal Pandya, who bowled with the new ball. However, Ayush Mhatre and wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore stitched a 63-run stand for the second wicket before Bhargav Bhatt struck to send Mhatre back to the pavilion after the opener completed his fifty.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane joined Hardik Tamore and the two batters added 57 runs for the third wicket before Tamore fell for 40. The wicket of Tamore triggered a collapse for Mumbai as they went from 140 for 2 to 185 for 8.

Rahane fell to Bhargav Bhatt in the 36th over, failing to convert a start into a big knock. The senior batter managed 29 in 52 deliveries. Senior spinner Bhargav got Shreyas' wicket in his very next over, hurting Mumbai's middle-order.

Mumbai's tail, which kept wagging in the last season and the Irani Cup, failed in their first innings as Siddesh Lad, Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian failed to trouble the scorers much. Shardul Thakur was holding fort for Mumbai, but the defending champions were under immense pressure against Baroda.

JAGADEESAN HITS HUNDRED FOR TAMIL NADU

In Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu took the first-innings lead as early as the second day of the contest. After bowling Saurashtra for 203, Sai Sudharsan and Narayan Jagadeesan led a strong reply. The duo added 172 runs for the opening wicket, pinning down Suarashtra bowlers.

Sai Sudharsan missed out on a well-deserved hundred, getting run out on 82. Cheteshwar Pujara was in the thick of things as he affected the run-out and got the big scalp for Saurashtra.

Jagadeesan went on and scored the ninth first-class hundred. It was a crucial hundred for the wicketkeeper-batter, who did not manage to make use of the opportunities that came his way in the Duleep Trophy.

However, Jagadeesan failed to press on and convert it into a daddy hundred as he was dismissed on 100 by Jaydev Unadkat.

In the first innings of the clash in Coimbatore, Arpit Vasavada was the only man who managed to go past the 50-run mark for Saurashtra. Vasavada hit an unbeaten 62, managing crucial partnerships with the lower order to help Saurashtra post a competitive total of 2023.

Senior batter Pujara began his Ranji Trophy campaign poorly, getting bowled by R Sai Kishore for 16.

Tamil Nadu bowlers hunted in packs with Kishore getting three wickets. M Mohammed and R Sonu Yadav also took three wickets each for the home team.