Mumbai defeated J&K in their first match of new Ranji Trophy season.
Mumbai posted 386 runs in the first innings thanks to 116 by Siddesh Lad and 91 by Shams Mulani. Yudhvir Singh took a fifer for J&K. In response, J&K posted 325, with Captain Paras Dogra making 144, and Tushar Deshpande took 3/57.
Mumbai then made 181 in the second innings, with Shams Mulani top-scoring with 41 and Auqib Nabi taking 5/52. Set 243 to win, J&K folded for 207 runs, despite Qamran Iqbal’s 56, as Shams Mulani took 7/46.
This match was Deshpande’s comeback in cricket after 18 months. On the first day, he suffered from severe dyspnea while warming up in the high-altitude Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, which is renowned for its thin air.
When Deshpande's bronchitis flared up and he was having trouble breathing, he was sent to a nearby hospital for emergency care. Physicians weren't sure if he would be able to play the game any longer.
Deshpande bowled 35 grueling overs, emerging as Mumbai’s most effective bowler and showing brilliant skill, endurance, and determination.
“This was a crucial game for us and for me personally, too. Jammu and Kashmir had defeated us last season, and we wanted to start this campaign on the right note. It was also big for me because I was returning to Ranji after a year and a half. I had blanked out for 10 seconds during warm-up, but the will to do it for my team greatly helped me get over my discomfort,” Deshpande told Rajasthan Royals.
Mumbai's triumph over J&K was noteworthy, but it also demonstrated Deshpande's tenacity. Despite obstacles due to injury, his performance confirmed his position in the longer format.