Shreyas Iyer's career-best 233 powered defending champions Mumbai to a dominant position at the end of Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy match against Odisha at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday.
Resuming on 152, Iyer added another 81 runs, driving Mumbai’s first innings total to a formidable 602/4 before declaring. His partnership with Siddhesh Lad, who ended the day unbeaten on 169, set a new Ranji Trophy record for Mumbai, adding 354 runs for the fourth wicket. This surpassed the previous record of 342 set by Rohit Sharma and Sushant Marathe in 2009-10.
Iyer reached his third double-century in first-class cricket with a stylish straight drive, scoring his 200 off just 201 balls. His aggressive knock included 24 fours and nine sixes before he was stumped off Harshit Rathod’s bowling. Meanwhile, Lad took on the anchor role, cautiously ensuring Mumbai’s commanding position.
Reflecting on Iyer’s innings, Lad praised his partner’s positive approach. "He loves to go after the bowlers and plays with great intent," he remarked.
For Lad, this inning marked a significant return to form after two challenging years, which included a hernia surgery and time away from the Mumbai team due to association policies. Motivated by team management support, Lad made an inspiring comeback with his composed 169 off 337 balls.
Following Iyer’s dismissal, 21-year-old Suryansh Shedge capitalised on a fatigued Odisha bowling attack with a rapid 79 off just 36 balls, featuring six sixes and seven fours, pushing Mumbai beyond the 600 mark.
Odisha’s innings quickly fell under pressure, with Shardul Thakur removing Swastik Samal for a duck. Although Anurag Sarangi and Sandeep Pattnaik managed a 109-run stand, Odisha lost three wickets for just two runs soon after, leaving them struggling at 146/5 by the close of play. Spinners Shams Mulani and Himanshu Singh claimed two wickets each, putting Odisha at a daunting deficit of 456 runs as they face an uphill task over the next two days.
Brief Scores:
- Mumbai: 602/4 declared (Shreyas Iyer 233, Siddhesh Lad 169 not out, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 92, Suryansh Shedge 79 not out)
- Odisha: 146/5 (Sandeep Pattnaik 73 not out)