After dominating the Irani Cup against the Rest of India for the first three days, Mumbai conceded a bit of an advantage on the penultimate day when they were bowled out for 182 runs. However, they had set the opposition a stiff 480-run target to overhaul in a little over four sessions. The Naman Ojha-led team pulled out a rabbit from the hat to clinch the Cup on the last day as the game went down to the wire.
Asked where they possibly lost the plot, Mumbai coach Chandrakant Pandit said, “Whatever plan we had didn’t work. But of course we must give credit to the ROI batsman for the way they played. I think we could have exploited the wicket much better.”
Mumbai were probably a spinner short as the conditions were assisting the spinners specially since the fourth day. Besides, it was Iqbal Abdullah, who picked five-for with his left-arm spin. Aditya Tare tried out all the available options including part-timers like Shreyas Iyer, Siddhesh Lad and Suryakumar Yadav as Mumbai searched for wickets. “Unfortunately we didn’t have regular bowler (regular spinner) apart from Iqbal Abdullah and probably we could have bowled much better in that sense,” Pandit said.
“We have relied on our medium pacers throughout the season and unfortunately on the fifth day, we could have had Bista (to do the job for us). We were hoping that he would bowl well, but he could not utilise the pitch condition and that is where we failed.”
While their bowlers couldn’t defend the total, Mumbai’s second innings batting collapse too was a factor in the loss in hind sight. Analysing the match, Pandit said, “There are two-three things if one has to analyse the game. Initially, when we got 608 we could have added another 100 runs (as well). That is all part of the game. Again, then 91 runs partnership that happened in ROI’s first innings. The third parameter was batting where we could have done much better. It was unfortunate that we could not capitalise on our upper hand.”
Speaking about the strategy on the fifth day as they looked to defend the target, he said, “We were trying to get wickets. It was not that we were totally defensive, but of course 480 runs to chase naturally we were waiting for the wicket. Early morning breakthrough would have made a difference. I don’t want to come back and say that certain things went against us.”
Further while speaking about the chase and the contributions of the tail-enders he said, “Every player has confidence and those days have gone when tail-ender couldn’t bat. If you see the way Jaydev Unadkat batted, he spent almost two hours there (first innings).”
While they lost the Cup, Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy. Reflecting on the season, Pandit said, “We have to try and implement our strategy and planning. You cannot relax regardless of any kind of total which you might have or any kind of wicket that you have. The game is played mentally and that is what I feel. We will definitely discuss the points. It is a young bunch and a brilliant lesson for them. I hope that they come up,” he concluded.
