Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shreyas Iyer departs for eight-ball duck against Baroda, as form slump continues

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match, Mumbai's Shreyas Iyer registered yet another duck against Baroda on Saturday. The recent setback has added to Iyer's string of disappointing performances, and his raised doubts about his form and prospects of returning to India's Test squad. 

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November, the pressure is high on the 29-year-old to get back to form and make a strong case for inclusion in the Test squad.

The match against Baroda at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium in Vadodara saw Iyer walking in to bat as the fifth Mumbai batter with scoreboard reading 140/3. However, his stay at the crease was short-lived, as left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt dismissed him for a duck on the batter's eighth ball.

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Shreyas Iyer registered his third duck in last four First-Class games

This dismissal is Iyer's third first-innings duck in his last four first-class games, following similar disappointments in the Duleep Trophy while leading India D.

In the Duleep Trophy, he managed only two fifties in three matches (six innings), followed by scores of 57 and 8 in the Irani Cup tie in Lucknow. The Mumbai-born was recently left out of India's squad for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand.

The Mumbai team, entering the Ranji Trophy as defending champions and fresh off their first Irani Cup victory, are in a tough position in the match against Krunal Pandya's Baroda. At tea on Day 2, Mumbai trailed by 127 runs, with their score at 163/5 after 45 overs, with Siddhesh Lad and Shams Mulani at the crease.

After winning the toss, Baroda's skipper Krunal Pandya elected to bat first. With valuable contributions from Mitesh Patel (86) and Atit Sheth (66), the side managed to post a first-inning total of 290. For Mumbai, Tanush Kotian was the wrecker in chief with the ball as he bagged four wickets. Shams Mulani also chipped in with three crucial scalps. In reply, the defending champions, saw the opener Prithvi Shaw depart early, but Ayush Mhatre and Hardik Tamore got the side back with their scores of 52 and 40, respectively.