Bhargav Bhatt’s exceptional bowling performance propelled Baroda to a rare Ranji Trophy victory over defending champions Mumbai on Monday. The left-arm spinner’s 18th five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket proved decisive as Baroda secured an 84-run triumph at the Vadodara International Cricket Academy.
Baroda had only defeated Mumbai four times in their 66 previous encounters, with their last win coming in 1998-99. History repeated itself as Bhatt’s 6/55 dismantled Mumbai’s batting lineup.
At the start of the final day, Mumbai needed 220 runs with eight wickets in hand to chase down a target of 262. However, the deteriorating pitch made their task challenging. Captain Ajinkya Rahane’s early dismissal by Bhatt set the tone for Mumbai’s collapse.
Bhatt continued to torment the Mumbai batters, trapping opener Ayush Mhatre and then removing Shreyas Iyer, who had attempted to counterattack. The Mumbai allrounder trio of Shams Mulani, Shardul Thakur, and Tanush Kotian fell without resistance, leaving only Siddhesh Lad to offer any resistance.
Lad, returning to the Mumbai team after four and a half years, scored a solid fifty. However, Bhatt’s relentless bowling proved too much for him, as he accepted a return catch to end the match.
Baroda’s victory was a testament to Bhatt’s exceptional bowling skills. The 26-year-old spinner has now taken 10 wickets in a match against Mumbai for the second consecutive time.
