Day 3 of the Irani Cup 2024–25 saw the match resume, and Mumbai needed to add just one run to their overnight total of 536 for 9 in order to be eliminated. After a huge 222 score, star batsman Sarfaraz Khan returned to the dressing room without being removed from the game. The last batsman to be removed was Mohammed Junaid Khan, as Mukesh Kumar finished with an incredible five wicket haul while conceding 110 runs in thirty overs.
The teenage batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran put on quite the show once the second innings got underway. The left-handed hitter Sai Sudharsan came in after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad edged one to second slip, where Prithvi Shaw made a superb catch. Sudharsan made 32, but more significantly, he and Easwaran put up an 87-run stand. After smashing eight boundaries and a six in just 117 balls, the 29-year-old achieved his historic three-figure mark.
Devdutt Padikkal joined the established Abhimanyu Easwaran after Sudharsan, but he was unable to stay there for very long.
After beating Padikkal, Mohit Avasthi struck again, ending Ishan Kishan‘s (38-run) alliance with Easwaran after 70 runs. With Kishan’s collapse as a stumper-batter, Dhruv Jurel became a member of the party. Jurel scored 30 off 41 at Stumps without losing a wicket, hitting four boundaries and a six in the process.
On the penultimate day of the main tournament, the opener will resume his batting from 151. He is still going strong and has achieved another milestone.
The bowlers from Mumbai, speaking of which, continued to find success when Gaikwad was removed by Mohammed Juned Khan, who also claimed his first-ever wicket in first-class cricket. At the conclusion of the day’s play, Avasthi had claimed two wickets, and off-spinner Kotian had also claimed one in the shape of Sudharsan. On the other side, Shardul Thakur is hoping to play tomorrow after being hospitalised owing to a fever that prevented him from playing.
Also Read: Irani Cup 2024: Shardul Thakur is discharged from hospital post battling high fever
The unbeaten pair would be crucial in reducing the gap between them and the rest of India, who are now trailing by 248 runs. A victory would be the icing on the cake.
India
