NEW DELHI: Out-of-favour India batter Shreyas Iyer failed to make an impact with the bat in the Ranji Trophy semifinal match between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Representing the 41-time champions Mumbai, Iyer was dismissed by Tamil Nadu pacer Sandeep Warrier for just 3 runs in their first innings.
The match, which took place at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC in Mumbai, saw Mumbai losing their skipper Ajinkya Rahane after a brief 43-run partnership with Musheer Khan. However, Iyer could not stop the Tamil Nadu resurgence and was clean bowled by Warrier soon after his captain’s fall. Mumbai was reduced to 96/5 at that point.
Tamil Nadu skipper B Sai Kishore led the fight back with the ball after Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur starred for Mumbai on the opening day. Tamil Nadu had a meek display on Day 1, getting bowled out for just 146 in the first innings.
On the second day, Sai Kishore (5/31 in 20 overs) completed his five-wicket haul as Mumbai struggled at 125/7 at lunch. However, Mumbai managed to shave off a significant chunk of the first-innings deficit and trailed the visitors by just 21 runs at the end of Day 2's first session.
1/10:Annual central contracts: BCCI drops Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan
Getty Images
2/10:BCCI
<p>BCCI, on Wednesday, sent a strong message that not playing in the Ranji Trophy unless you are on national duty or are unfit will not be tolerated. </p>
3/10:The exclusions
<p>BCCI excluded India's middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan from the list of 30 centrally contracted players. </p>Getty Images
4/10:Shreyas Iyer
<p>Shreyas Iyer missed the last league match and the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal, citing back pain, but has been included for the semifinal against Tamil Nadu from March 2 in Mumbai. </p>PTI
5/10:Ishan Kishan
<p>Ishan Kishan came back midway from India's tour of South Africa due to 'personal reasons' in December last year, missed the Test series against England and didn't play in the Ranji for Jharkhand. </p>TNN
6/10:KL Rahul
<p>Middle-order batsmen KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and pacer Mohammed Siraj have all been elevated to the Grade A category. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Rishabh Pant
<p>Rishabh Pant, who has been out of action since January 2023 while recovering from a horrific road accident, finds himself in Grade B. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Grade A
<p>Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami have been retained in Grade A along with Hardik Pandya. </p>Getty Images
9/10:Top grade
<p>Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been retained in the A+ category. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Axar Patel
<p>Axar Patel, who had a Grade A contract last season, has been moved to Grade B after losing his place in the India Test side to Kuldeep Yadav. </p>PTIIt was a disappointing outing for Iyer, who would have hoped for a better performance on his return to domestic cricket after failing to secure BCCI's central contracts. Unfortunately, he could not deliver in the first innings.
It was a remarkable comeback by Tamil Nadu, and they were able to put Mumbai under pressure in the match after a dismal opening day.
