In the final match against Vidarbha, Shardul Thakur found himself in a familiar situation, reminiscent of the semi-final against Tamil Nadu. Mumbai was struggling at 111 for 6 when Shardul came to bat, similar to their position against Tamil Nadu when they were 106 for 7.
However, there was a crucial difference. In the semi-final, Mumbai batted second and needed to chase down a target. This time, they were batting first, and Vidarbha had the upper hand after choosing to bowl first. Despite a solid start by Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani, Vidarbha’s perseverance paid off with wickets falling in quick succession.
Enter Shardul Thakur, known for his aggressive batting. Just like in the semi-final, he counterattacked and changed the game’s momentum. Facing his third ball, he hit a boundary, signaling a turnaround. Shardul attacked Vidarbha’s spinners, reminiscent of his performance against Tamil Nadu.
Despite losing partners, Shardul continued his onslaught, slog-sweeping the spinner and hitting boundaries off seamers. Vidarbha turned to veteran spinner Sarwate to control the situation, but Shardul remained relentless. He launched Sarwate for a six, adding crucial runs with Shams Mulani.
Shardul reached his fifty in just 37 balls
As wickets kept falling at the other end, Shardul stood tall. He reached his fifty in just 37 balls, steering Mumbai past 200. Even after the tea break, he continued his aggressive approach, hitting sixes down the ground and reaching 75 off 69 balls before being dismissed.
Shardul’s day wasn’t over. In his bowling stint, he made an impact by getting an lbw decision overturned through a review. Although he missed a catching opportunity, his contributions with the ball added to Mumbai’s strength.
The final between Mumbai and Vidarbha showcased a contrast between Vidarbha’s collective effort and Mumbai’s star players. While Vidarbha’s bowlers worked together, Shardul’s all-round performance kept Mumbai in the game. Despite challenges, the match lived up to its billing, offering a thrilling contest between two contrasting teams.
