Irani Cup: Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan star for Mumbai on hard-fought Day 1

Irani Cup 2024: Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan hit fifties as Mumbai recovered from early trouble to head to Stumps at 237 for 4. Captain Rahane will be looking to make it big and start the domestic season on a high.

In Short

• Mumbai hit 237 for 4 on Day 1 of Irani Cup in Lucknow
• Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 86, leading Mumbai's fight
• Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer hit fifties

Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane kept himself in the mix with a patient 86 not out on Day 1 of the Irani Cup match between Mumbai and the Rest of India. Rahane steered Mumbai out of trouble in the marquee five-day match at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium. The defending Ranji Trophy champions lost early wickets, but the experienced trio of Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan shone with gritty knocks on Tuesday, October 1.

The first day's play ended early due to bad light in Lucknow and Mumbai moved into a position of solidity at Stumps -- 237 for 4.

For Rest of India, Mukesh Kumar, who was overlooked for the recently-concluded Test series against Bangladesh, shone with three wickets while Yash Dayal picked up the crucial wicket of Shreyas Iyer in the final session. Yash was released from the Indian Test squad along with Sarfaraz and Dhruv Jurel to take part in the Irani Cup.

Rest of India captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to field on Tuesday. Mukesh Kumar made sure his captain's call was validated, picking three wickets in his extended first spell. Mukesh got the wickets of openers Prithvi Shaw and No. 3 Hardik Tamore in the same over.

Devdutt Padikkal made sure he was in the highlights reel by taking a stunning catch in the second slip that saw the end of Prithvi Shaw's brief stay in the middle. Prithvi, who played a key role in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy triumph, managed only 4.

Mumbai were 3 for 37 when Mukesh Kumar ended opener Ayush Mhatre's patient knock of 19 off 35.

However, Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer added 102 for the fourth wicket, navigating through a tricky period. Shreyas was the brisker of the two in their partnership as the Kolkata Knight Riders captain hit 2 sixes and six boundaries for his 84-ball 57. However, Shreyas threw it away in the 40th over, handing Yash Dayal his first wicket in the Irani Cup.

Rahane then joined hands Sarfaraz, who kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy pace. The two batters added 98 runs for the fifth wicket and remained unbeaten at Stump. Sarfaraz completed another fifty, continuing his good run with the bat in the domestic season after his exploits in the Duleep Trophy.

Rahane, on the other hand, was not picked Duleep Trophy. The senior batter, who is not in the contention for a Test place, will be hoping to hit a big one and remind the selectors that he still has got it. Rahane last played a Test match for India in July 2023. He headed to Lucknow after playing three county Championship matches, hitting a hundred in one of them.