Out-of-favour India batter Sarfaraz Khan scored an unbeaten century for Mumbai on Thursday (January 22). In Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Elite Group D match taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi International
Stadium against Hyderabad, the 28-year-old right-handed batter walked out to bat at No. 5 and was unbeaten at 142 runs at the end of day one’s play. He has slammed 11 fours and 5 sixes so far for the Siddhesh Lad-led side.
Amandeep Khare and Anustup Majumdar are the only two batters who have amassed more Ranji tons than Sarfaraz since the 2019-20 season.
Lad, who is leading Mumbai in the absence of Ajinkya Rahane, also scored a century for the domestic giants.
Lad sent the ball across the ropes 10 times and also had two sixes in his 179-ball knock to score 104, while putting on 249 runs for the fourth wicket after Mumbai was asked to bat first.
At the draw of stumps, Himanshu Singh (0) had joined Sarfaraz in the middle after Rohit Rayudu broke the partnership in the 86th over, trapping Lad in front of the wickets.
Rayudu (2/66) also accounted for opener Akhil Herwadkar (27), while skipper Mohammed Siraj, playing his first Ranji match of the season, picked up the other opener Akash Anand (35) after the two had added 60 runs for the opening wicket.
Sai Yadav also snapped a wicket, dismissing Musheer Khan (11) cheaply.
Mumbai were going strong at 60/0 before they lost three quick wickets to be reduced to 86/3.
Coming out to bat at No. 5, Sarfaraz then joined hands with Lad to script the recovery.
With three wins, Mumbai lead the group with 24 points, while Jammu and Kashmir are placed second with 20 points, followed by Rajasthan (13).
Hyderabad, also at 13 points, will have to win both their remaining matches to keep their hopes alive for a quarterfinal spot.
In another match, Puducherry were bowled out for 233, built mainly around Ajay Rohera’s patient 211-ball 94.
Opting to bat, Puducherry struggled to weave a substantial partnership with Rohera anchoring the innings with a superb knock, laced with eight fours.
Jayant Yadav (33), Aman Khan (25) and Paras Ratnaparkhe (20) frittered away their starts as J&K bowlers produced a disciplined effort.
At stumps, Sunil Kumar and Shubham Khajuria were at the crease with J&K yet to open their account.
Sunil Kumar (3/26), Yudhvir Singh (3/55) and Vanshaj Sharma (2/55) shared eight wickets among them.
Brief Scores
Mumbai: 332-4 in 87 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 142 not out, Siddhesh Lad 104; Rohit Rayudu 2/66) vs Hyderabad
Puducherry: 233/10 in 86.4 overs (Ajay Rohera 94; Sunil Kumar 3/26) against J&K
Himachal Pradesh: 314-4 in 90 overs (Pukhraj Mann 118; Manav Suthar 2/59) vs Rajasthan
Delhi: 216/10 in 67.5 overs (Ayush Doseja 104; Dev Aditya Singh 3/43, Sahban Khan 3/50) vs Chhattisgarh: 52-0 in 17 overs (Ayush Pandey 29, Anuj Tiwary 21)
(With inputs from PTI)
