NEWS
Follow Us34-year-old Bhargav Bhatt, who played 17 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) between 2011 and 2013, bowled Baroda to a famous victory over Mumbai at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, with his 10-wicket haul helping the Krunal Pandya-led side beat the defending champions by 84 runs.
Bhatt entered the 2024/25 Ranji season having fared exceptionally well the previous season, taking 41 wickets at an average of 22.12. Incidentally, it was against Mumbai last season that he registered career-best figures of 14/312 at the Bandra Kurla Complex.
Here, he made it in 24 wickets in two games against Mumbai by picking 4/53 in the first innings before following it up with 6/55 in the second innings. Mumbai fielded both Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer in the contest and Bhatt dismissed both senior batters in each innings in the clash.
Fittingly, the left-arm spinner helped Baroda register victory by taking the wicket of Siddhesh Lad to help the side defend 262.
Earlier, skipper Pandya starred with the ball for Baroda, smashing a 55 down the order under pressure, with the team reeling at 41/6 at one point.
It’s been some second wind with the red-ball for 34-year-old Bhatt. He has now taken 51 wickets in 2024 at a remarkable average of 19.8. Only one other Indian has taken over 50 wickets in the Ranji since the start of last season (non-plate), and that’s R Sai Kishore.
Brief scores
Baroda 290 (Mitesh Patel 86, Tanush Kotian 4/61) & 185 (Krunal Pandya 55, Tanush Kotian 5/61) beat Mumbai 214 (Ayush Mhatre 52, Bhargav Bhatt 4/53) & 178 all-out (Siddhesh Lad 55, Bhargav Bhatt 6/55) by 84 runs
Player of the Match - Bhargav Bhatt
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