Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Ajinkya Rahane's century keeps Mumbai ahead in quarter-final match

The Ranji Trophy quarter-finals have begun and there have been some incredible performances that have been witnessed. The knockout game between Mumbai and Haryana has also taken an interesting turn where Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane went on to play a great knock to keep the team ahead of the game. 

The Haryana team had shown a lot of fight in the game and though they might have not gone on to get the lead in the first innings they still posed a challenge to the 42-time champions only giving them a lead of 14 runs in the first innings. Mumbai had lost their openers early once again and this is where Ajinkya Rahane came in and finally scored his first century in the tournament scoring 108 off 180 deliveries. He formed great partnerships with Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube which helped the team put on a decent and competitive target of 354 in the end. 

Rahane has been in great form in the domestic scene so far and this is currently his seventh 50+ score in the last 11 domestic matches as well. This was his 40th ton in first-class cricket which has come at a crucial time for the team. These are the knocks that have shown the experience and prowess of Rahane not only as a world-class batter but as a leader as well.  

Speaking of the quarter-final match against Haryana the team has come into bat and the Mumbai side has already got the first breakthrough dismissing the likes of skipper Ankit Kumar who was the centurion in the first innings. Mumbai star all-rounder Shardul Thakur was the one who dismissed the Harayana captain who was also their highest run-scorer in the tournament as well. As of writing Haryana is currently at 31-1 at Lunch with Lakshya Suman Dalal and Yashvardhan Dalal at the crease.