Ranji Trophy | Avasthi and Deshpande help Mumbai wrest back control over Karnataka

After a dismal batting show let Mumbai down in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Karnataka, not many would’ve imagined that the 42-time champion would eventually stage a comeback.

But Mohit Avasthi (four for 27) and Tushar Deshpande (four for 33) once again proved why the Mumbai cricketers are called ‘khadoos’. True to their reputation, the Mumbai fast bowlers refused to give up and bundled out Karnataka for just 173, limiting the deficit to 53 runs.

Karnataka, cruising at 110 for two at one point, looked set for a big total before Deshpande and Avasthi made the most of the conditions at the MCA-BKC ground on Saturday to trigger a collapse. Karnataka lost eight wickets for just 63 runs, and was folded up in just 127 minutes to allow Mumbai bounce back in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal

Deshpande, left, is overjoyed after removing Agarwal.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

Coming on the back of a five-wicket haul against Delhi in the last league game, Avasthi maintained good line and length and unsettled the Karnataka middle-order before Deshpande tightened the noose.

Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Mayank Agarwal (92, 134b, 14×4, 1×6) did put up a fight and challenged the Mumbai bowlers before missing out on a century as he was caught at second slip by Siddhesh Lad off a nippy Deshpande delivery.

While Karnataka squandered the opportunity to gain an upper hand, Mumbai batters Akash Anand (53 batting, 130b, 4×4) and Musheer Khan (49 batting, 105b, 5×4) took lessons from the previous innings and ensured that the host ended the second day at 189 for two, with a lead of 136 runs.

Mumbai started steadily with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akhil Herwardkar adding 77 runs for the opening stand. Both looked at ease, before a mix-up saw Herwadkar heading back to the dressing room. Shreyas Gopal struck in the next over as Jaiswal was stumped.

But with Musheer and Akash standing firm and adding 112 runs for the third wicket, there were no further slip-ups. Playing every ball by its merit, Akash seemed to be in no hurry, en route to his third fifty-plus score, while Musheer was one run away from his fifty when stumps were drawn.

The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 120.

Karnataka — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul c Kotian b Avasthi 28, Mayank Agarwal c Lad b Deshpande 92, Devdutt Padikkal c Akash b Shedge 17, Karun Nair c Jaiswal b Shardul 4, R. Smaran c Akash b Avasthi 0, Shreyas Gopal c Akash b Avasthi 0, Kruthik Krishna c Akash b Deshpande 9, Vidyadhar Patil c Musheer b Deshpande 4, Shikhar Shetty b Avasthi 4, Prasidh Krishna b Deshpande 0, Vidwath Kaverappa (not out) 4; Extras: (lb-9, nb-1, w-1) 11; Total: (in 47.1 overs) 173.

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-88, 3-119, 4-120, 5-120, 6-156, 7-164, 8-169, 9-169.

Mumbai bowling: Shardul 9-2-52-1, Avasthi 15.1-4-27-4, Deshpande 11-3-33-4, Shedge 8-0-37-1, Mulani 4-0-15-0.

Mumbai — 2nd innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal st. Kruthik b Shreyas 36, Akhil Herwadkar (run out) 33, Akash Anand (batting) 53, Musheer Khan (batting) 49; Extras: (lb-10, b-1, nb-1, w- 6) 18; Total: (for two wkts. in 52 overs) 189.

Fall of wickets: 1-77, 2-77.

Karnataka bowling: Vidyadhar 12-2-52-0, Prasidh 11-1-37-0, Kaverappa 7-0-36-0, Shreyas 13-2-35-1, Shikhar 9-2-18-0.

Published – February 07, 2026 05:51 pm IST