Highlights of Day 5
Mumbai gained some relief after lunch on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final, following a wicket less opening session. They found the perfect combination in Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande to crush Vidarbha’s bottom order after captain Akshay Wadkar and all-rounder Harsh Dubey put up a fight. While Deshpande was bouncing off Vidarbha’s tail, Kotian was challenging both edges of the bat. Mumbai took four wickets in twenty-eight balls, two from Kotian and two from Deshpande. By getting Wadkar for 102, Kotian broke the frustrating stand. Deshpande then effectively ended Dubey’s (65) resistance by using the short ball. It didn’t take long for Kotian and Deshpande to dismiss Aditya Sarwate (3) and Yash Thakur (6). Mumbai were one wicket away from ending an 8-year-long wait for a Ranji Trophy title – a record-extending 42nd one that would be. Kotian and Deshpande were all over the Vidarbha batter’s and had shown no signs of tiring. But Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane thought otherwise.
Rahane gave the ball to Kulkarni
Dhawal Kulkarni, who was playing in his final first-class match, received the ball from him. Not to be outdone, the experienced right-arm seamer who had claimed the opening wicket for Vidarbha in the final was impressive. The ball rattled into the stumps after he pitched it up and Umesh Yadav swung over the line. Kulkarni let it soak in, closing his eyes and stretching his arms. His teammates were sprinting back and forth. Mumbai won the game by a margin of 169 runs, securing their 42nd Ranji Trophy triumph.
Kulkarni was touched by seeing this gesture
Kulkarni, who picked up three wickets with the new ball in the first innings, knew it was the last time he would turn up wearing a Mumbai jersey. He tried his best but could not control his emotions. Tears rolled down his cheeks even as his teammates embraced him. It was a fitting end for a man, who had been an ardent servant of Mumbai cricket for over a decade and a half. After the match, he said he didn’t expect Rahane to hand over the ball to him, especially when Deshpande was bowling so well. “It’s a cricketer’s dream to start and finish on a high. This is my 6th final, 5th time we’ve won and this will be dear to me. It was an excellent gesture, I didn’t expect (that Rahane would give him the ball to finish the game), but hats off to Tushar who gave the ball to me despite taking two wickets in an over. I’ve got experience as I’ve played with big stars, they’ve shared plenty of experience with me and I have passed the same to the younger lot,” Kulkarni said after the game.
Kulkarni will be remembered always
Overall, Kulkarni had a memorable final as he claimed three wickets in the first innings while giving away just 15 runs in his 11 overs spell. In the second innings, the 35-year-old leaked runs but eventually bagged his first with Umesh losing his wicket to the experienced pacer. He ended his career with 281 wickets in 95 first-class matches. He has also represented India in 12 ODIs and 2 T20Is. The Mumbai Cricket Association felicitated Kulkarni. His wife and children also joined him on the ground.
Kevin Varchand