From J&K shock to Ranji Trophy quarters! Mumbai's narrow escape

It proved a narrow escape for 40-time champions Mumbai as they squeezed into the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy on the basis of the first innings lead after their Group A match against Karnataka ended in a draw on Monday.

Mumbai were also lucky that some other results in the group went their way, with Bengal holding out for a draw against Madhya Pradesh, Baroda losing to Tamil Nadu and Railways being beaten by Uttar Pradesh.

Had any of those three results gone the other way, they may have needed an outright victory against holders Karnataka. In the end three points sufficed for them.

Coach Pravin Amre was a relieved man.

Reflecting how the team sneaked into the knock-out stage despite the odds being heavily stacked against them, he said: "We lost to J&K, we lost [first innings lead] to Railways and the way we lost against Tamil Nadu. From there to make a comeback, I think we created history the other way.

"The team has shown real character because it is easy to criticize. But the team is young, with a lot of up-and-coming players. As many as seven debutants played (this season). The expectation of playing for Mumbai is so high and many times they didn’t deliver. However, we backed our youngsters and so many positives happened.

"Qualifying was a team effort and in the batting unit a couple of names came up -- like Shreyas (Iyer) with 600-plus runs, Siddhesh (Lad) with 400-plus runs, Surya (Kumar Yadav) with 500-plus runs and Aditya Tare. They were the mainstays and delivered when it really mattered."

Mumbai had a nightmarish start to the season, shocked by minnows Jammu and Kashmir at home in their opening match.

They also suffered the humiliation of an innings defeat against Tamil Nadu -- their first in 64 years -- and conceded the first innings lead to Railways, which left their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals hanging by a thread.

Captaincy also changed midway when Surya Kumar Yadav stepped down after the defeat to Tamil Nadu and Aditya Tare took over the mantle.

Veteran Wasim Jaffer played just two matches because of injury, while their bowling mainstay, Dhawal Kulkarni, had to rush to Australia to provide cover for the Indian bowlers during the ODI tri-series in Australia.

Amre believes that the 169-run victory over Baroda in the penultimate league match was the turning point for Mumbai and put their campaign back on track.

He also pointed out that taking the first innings lead against Karnataka was crucial, as the visitors were bowled out for 415 in their first innings after being comfortably placed at 317 for three at one stage.

"Personally, I feel that the Baroda win was very important because they won the game against Karnataka and we lost against Tamil Nadu.

"That Baroda win kept us alive and, not to forget, this game Karnataka was the No. 1 team. Some teams could afford to rest their key players and still they were in a good position. The way our bowlers bowled, it showed character. From 317-3 to 415 all out, maybe, that is the reason we are going into the next round,” he said.

The former India batsman is optimistic of Mumbai's young side coming up with an improved showing in the knock-out rounds.

"We have got the opportunity. I feel that league is a different tournament and knock-out is a different tournament. We are entering a different tournament and we have to take one game at a time. We are really delighted; the team has shown a lot of character and everybody backed each other.

"The way we played against Baroda we never thought about thinking whether we will (win or not)… because that match we could have got relegated if we had lost. That was the threat we had and from there, for the team to fight back, they showed a lot of character. The Baroda victory gave us the confidence that we can beat Karnataka."

Amre is also hoping that experienced pacer Dhawal Kulkarni will join the side ahead of the quarter-finals, scheduled from February 15-19, the draw for which will take place soon.
   
"I am hoping Dhawal will come; that will be our major strength. I believe he is not in the World Cup, so he can join the team. That will be the biggest plus we are hoping for."

He also believes that Mumbai needs to work on their batting, especially the top order which has been pretty inconsistent this season.

"I think that's the area we can work on actually. As I said, knock-out is a different tournament and in the days we have got we will work on that."

He defended the decision to field youngsters this season, saying: "That's what we all decided... that this year in Mumbai cricket we will look out for the next generation and will back them; that was our main policy and agenda. We gave a fair run to everyone even though the team suffered.

"I would say, a couple of games we really backed them, but they could not deliver so we had to see for replacements. It happens sometimes that when you back someone it costs you the game, but we recovered really well."