Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium witnessed a batting masterclass as Mumbai racked up 560 in their first innings of the Ranji Trophy Group B encounter, powered by Sarfaraz Khan’s sublime 227. Batting at number five, the Mumbai stalwart faced 219 deliveries, dispatching 19 boundaries and 9 massive sixes to anchor the innings and propel his team to a commanding position.
Known for his aggressive strokeplay in limited-overs cricket, Sarfaraz adapted seamlessly to first-class demands. This knock was his fifth double ton in first-class cricket, and it came with the bonus of reaching 5,000 career runs. Key alliances defined his stay: first, a marathon 249-run partnership with Siddhesh Lad for the fourth wicket, where Lad grinded out 104 runs from 179 balls, including 10 fours and 2 sixes. Later, Sarfaraz added 114 with Suved Parkar, who scored a brisk 75 off 98 balls laced with 11 fours and a six.
The innings started steadily with openers Akhil Herwadkar (27) and Akash Anand (35) putting on 60 runs. Atharva Ankolekar’s explosive 35 off just 22 balls added momentum. For Hyderabad, spinner CTL Rakshan was the standout bowler, returning figures of 4/107 from 24 overs. Rohit Rayudu snared two wickets, and the rest of the attack – including skipper Mohammed Siraj – managed one apiece.
With this colossal score, Mumbai have seized the initiative early. Sarfaraz’s form signals his readiness for bigger stages, while Hyderabad must now bat through pressure to stay in contention.
