Gujarat win maiden Ranji title
Vivek M V, Indore,
Great upsets enhance the romance of sports. Ahead of this season’s Ranji Trophy final, not many would have given Gujarat much of a chance against the mighty Mumbai. But like they had done all through their campaign, the Parthiv Patel-captained side fought hard, worked collectively and soaked up the pressure in crunch situations to clinch their maiden Ranji title.
With his team needing 265 more runs on the fifth and final day, Parthiv essayed a captain’s knock of 143 to guide Gujarat to a commanding five-wicket victory over the 41-time champions here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Gujarat had ended runners-up to the erstwhile Holkar when they last made a Ranji final here in 1950-51.
Playing their second final of the tournament after 66 years at the same venue, Gujarat made sure they returned home with nothing less than the tag of champions this time.
With their triumph, Gujarat have now pocketed all three domestic titles – the other two being the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2012-13, 14-15) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16). Significantly, all their title-winning efforts have come under the leadership of Parthiv who, in a way, has been the face of Gujarat cricket for a decade now.
After bowling out Mumbai for 228, Gujarat rode on Parthiv’s 90 and Manprit Juneja’s 77 to post 328 all out, taking a 100-run lead in the process. Mumbai fought back through Abhishek Nayar to set a target of 312.
A 116-run stand from Parthiv and Juneja (54), helped Gujarat pull off the highest chase in a final, surpassing Hyderabad’s 310 against Nawanagar (1937-38).
“We had many talented players in our side and we knew we could win the Ranji Trophy. After a few frustrating seasons, we finally have achieved our goal,” said a delighted Parthiv.
With his team needing 265 more runs on the fifth and final day, Parthiv essayed a captain’s knock of 143 to guide Gujarat to a commanding five-wicket victory over the 41-time champions here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Gujarat had ended runners-up to the erstwhile Holkar when they last made a Ranji final here in 1950-51.
Playing their second final of the tournament after 66 years at the same venue, Gujarat made sure they returned home with nothing less than the tag of champions this time.
With their triumph, Gujarat have now pocketed all three domestic titles – the other two being the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2012-13, 14-15) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16). Significantly, all their title-winning efforts have come under the leadership of Parthiv who, in a way, has been the face of Gujarat cricket for a decade now.
After bowling out Mumbai for 228, Gujarat rode on Parthiv’s 90 and Manprit Juneja’s 77 to post 328 all out, taking a 100-run lead in the process. Mumbai fought back through Abhishek Nayar to set a target of 312.
A 116-run stand from Parthiv and Juneja (54), helped Gujarat pull off the highest chase in a final, surpassing Hyderabad’s 310 against Nawanagar (1937-38).
“We had many talented players in our side and we knew we could win the Ranji Trophy. After a few frustrating seasons, we finally have achieved our goal,” said a delighted Parthiv.
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