Ranji Trophy 2024-25: 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre smashes 176 for Mumbai in Round 2

Mumbai's team witnessed two remarkable performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 match against Maharashtra. Seventeen-year-old Ayush Mhatre smashed a brilliant maiden first-class century, while his senior pro-Shreyas Iyer made a roaring comeback to form with a crucial hundred after a string of low scores.

Batting on a challenging pitch where Maharashtra was dismissed for a mere 126, Mhatre took the onus of himself to get his team back on track after Prithvi Shaw and Hardik Tamore fell cheaply and formed crucial partnerships with captain Ajinkya Rahane and Iyer. Mhatre's innings of 176 off 232 balls, including 22 fours and four sixes.

“The first hundred is always special, I was confident, which kept building in this innings. I have to play with control, play according to what the situation demands, that's what the team expects from me,” Mhatre said after his century.

Hailing from Virar, a distant Mumbai suburb, the teenager used to travel 80 kilometres to chase his dreams. Supported by his family, particularly his grandfather and uncle, Mhatre's hard work has finally paid off in just his third first-class game. The right-hand batter, who was initially not part of the squad, was inducted after Musheer Khan met with a car accident.

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Shreyas Iyer smashes his 11th Ranji Trophy century

Meanwhile, Iyer's century couldn't have come at a better time. After a lean patch, the experienced batter finally raised his bat. The 29-year-old is still at the crease along with Suryakumar Yadav and is batting on 101 runs. The century was a great confidence booster for Iyer as he was not at his best in the Duleep Trophy 2024 and the Irani Cup final.

The partnership between Mhatre and Iyer was the main reason for Mumbai's safe position in the game, guiding the side to 335/4 at Lunch on Day 2, with a lead of 209 runs.