Madhya Pradesh with the Ranji Trophy Title 2022
Madhya Pradesh, which had never won the title before, stunned Mumbai in the final to lift their maiden Ranji Trophy and the final, played in Bengaluru, turned out to be a classic, filled with top performances and drama. On 26th June 2022, Madhya Pradesh created history by chasing down 108 on the final day and winning the match by 6 wickets.
The Ranji Trophy Final of 2022, held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru from June 22 to 26, was a historic clash where Madhya Pradesh clinched their maiden title, defeating Mumbai by 6 wickets. Mumbai, electing to bat first after winning the toss, set the stage for a gripping five-day contest. Madhya Pradesh’s disciplined bowling, resilient batting, and strategic chase overshadowed Mumbai’s efforts. Standout performances from Shubham Sharma, who earned Player of the Match for his 116 and 30, and Sarfaraz Khan, named Player of the Series for his 982 runs in the season.
Mumbai started their first innings with a solid 374 runs in 127.4 overs, scoring at 2.92 runs per over. Captain Prithvi Shaw got the team off to a good start, making 47 runs off 79 balls with 5 fours and a six, but Anubhav Agarwal got him out in the 27.4th over. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a calm knock, scoring 78 off 163 balls with 7 fours and a six, before Agarwal struck again in the 59.4th over. Armaan Jaffer added 26 runs off 56 balls, and Suved Parkar scored 18 off 30, but Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain dismissed them.
The star was Sarfaraz Khan, who batted patiently for 134 runs off 243 balls, hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes, until Gaurav Yadav ended his innings in the 127.4th over. Hardik Tamore chipped in with 24 off 44 balls, and Tanush Kotian made 15 off 39, but the lower order struggled. Dhawal Kulkarni scored just 1 off 36 balls, and Tushar Deshpande got 6 off 20, both falling to Agarwal and Yadav. Mohit Avasthi stayed not out with 7 off 11, including a six.
Madhya Pradesh’s bowlers worked hard, with Gaurav Yadav leading the way, taking 4 wickets for 106 runs in 35.4 overs. Anubhav Agarwal grabbed 3 wickets for 81 runs, while Saransh Jain took 2 for 47, and Kartikeya got 1 for 133. The team gave away 6 extras, including 2 byes, 3 leg byes, and 1 wide. Mumbai took the new ball at 88.2 overs, but it didn’t change the game much. Sarfaraz’s long innings gave Mumbai a strong total, but Madhya Pradesh’s bowlers kept things tight, setting the stage for their reply.
Madhya Pradesh answered with a massive 536 runs in 177.2 overs, at 3.02 runs per over, taking a 162-run lead. Yash Dubey set the tone with a steady 133 off 336 balls, including 14 fours, before Shams Mulani dismissed him in the 111.5th over. Himanshu Mantri scored 31 off 50 balls, with 3 fours and 2 sixes, but Tushar Deshpande got him lbw in the 16.3rd over. Shubham Sharma played a key role, scoring 116 off 215 balls with 15 fours and a six, until Mohit Avasthi dismissed him in the 89.4th over.
Rajat Patidar smashed 122 off 219 balls, hitting 20 fours, before Deshpande bowled him in the 163.2nd over. Captain Aditya Shrivastava added 25 off 69 balls, and Saransh Jain scored 57 off 97, both falling to Mulani. Akshat Raghuwanshi made 9 off 18, and Parth Sahani scored 11 off 18, dismissed by Deshpande and Mulani. Anubhav Agarwal got 8 off 29, and Kumar Kartikeya scored 9 off 13, with Mulani cleaning up both. Gaurav Yadav was not out on 1.
Shams Mulani was Mumbai’s best bowler, taking 5 wickets for 173 runs in 63.2 overs. Tushar Deshpande took 3 wickets for 116 runs, and Mohit Avasthi got 2 for 93. Mumbai gave away 14 extras, with 10 byes, 1 leg bye, 2 no-balls, and 1 wide. The new balls at 80.1 and 160.1 overs helped Mumbai’s bowlers, but Madhya Pradesh’s batsmen stayed focused. Dubey and Sharma’s big partnership, followed by Patidar’s aggressive knock, put Madhya Pradesh in control. The team’s depth, with contributions from Jain and others, ensured a huge total, giving them a strong advantage going into Mumbai’s second innings.
Mumbai’s second innings saw them score 269 runs in 57.3 overs at a quick 4.67 runs per over, setting Madhya Pradesh a target of 108. Prithvi Shaw led with a brisk 44 off 52 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes, before Gaurav Yadav got him in the 15.6th over. Hardik Tamore scored 25 off 32 balls with 2 fours and a six, but Kumar Kartikeya bowled him in the 10.3rd over. Armaan Jaffer made 37 off 40 balls with 3 fours, dismissed by Yadav in the 25.6th over. Suved Parkar top-scored with 51 off 58 balls, including 3 fours and a six, until Kartikeya struck in the 34.1st over.
Sarfaraz Khan scored 45 off 48 balls with 2 fours and a six, but Parth Sahani got him in the 43.3rd over. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored just 1 off 2 balls, falling to Kartikeya. Shams Mulani made 17 off 24, and Tushar Deshpande scored 7 off 25, both run out. Tanush Kotian added 11 off 24, dismissed by Kartikeya, while Mohit Avasthi scored 15 off 25 with a six, before Sahani’s lbw call in the 57.3rd over. Dhawal Kulkarni was not out on 2 off 15. Kumar Kartikeya led the bowling with 4 wickets for 98 runs in 25 overs.
Gaurav Yadav took 2 wickets for 53 runs, and Parth Sahani grabbed 2 for 43. Madhya Pradesh gave 14 extras, including 4 byes, 4 leg byes, and 6 wides. Mumbai aimed to score quickly to set a tough target, but two run-outs and Kartikeya’s spin kept them in check. Parkar and Sarfaraz’s efforts gave Mumbai hope, but the total was modest, leaving Madhya Pradesh with a reachable chase.
Madhya Pradesh chased 108 runs, finishing at 108/4 in 29.5 overs at 3.62 runs per over, securing a historic win. Himanshu Mantri scored 37 off 55 balls with 3 fours, before Shams Mulani dismissed him in the 16.3rd over. Yash Dubey was out early, scoring 1 off 3 balls, bowled by Dhawal Kulkarni in the 1.2nd over. Shubham Sharma played a steady 30 off 75 balls, with a four and a six, until Mulani got him in the 28.1st over. Parth Sahani scored 5 off 7, dismissed by Mulani in the 18.6th over.
Rajat Patidar, unbeaten on 30 off 37 balls with 4 fours, guided the team home alongside captain Aditya Shrivastava, who was not out on 1 off 2. Shams Mulani was Mumbai’s top bowler, taking 3 wickets for 41 runs in 13 overs, while Dhawal Kulkarni took 1 for 7 in 3 overs. Mumbai gave 4 extras, all byes. The chase was calm and controlled, with Mantri and Sharma steadying the innings after Dubey’s early loss. Patidar’s composed batting ensured no late drama, sealing the victory with 16 balls to spare.
Madhya Pradesh’s disciplined approach, led by coach Chandrakant Pandit, showcased their ability to handle pressure. Shubham Sharma’s all-round performance and Patidar’s finishing touch were key, while Mumbai’s young side, praised by coach Amol Muzumdar, fought hard but fell short. This win marked a new chapter for Madhya Pradesh cricket, celebrating their first Ranji Trophy triumph.