Mumbai's Siddhesh Lad’s brilliant century and Shardul Thakur’s triple blow leave Pondicherry reeling in one-sided Ranji Trophy 2025 clash

Siddhesh Lad scored a career-best 170 and captain Shardul Thakur took three quick scalps that helped Mumbai to take control of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Pondicherry on Day Two at the Wankhede Stadium. After declaring at 630/5, Mumbai reduced Pondicherry to 43/4. The visitors still trail by 587 runs in the first innings.

Shardul Thakur's three fers

Shardul, who recently joined the Mumbai Indians (MI), struck twice in the first three balls of the innings and finished with 3/17. Earlier in the day, he had also hit a rapid half-century. He bowled Neyan Kangayan with the first ball, trapped Paras Ratnaparkhe in the third, and later had Anand Singh Bais caught behind during a fiery spell on a flat pitch.

Siuddesh Lad smashed third century of Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Siddhesh Lad smashed his 13th first-class century, his third of the season and second in a row, making 170 off 285 balls with 19 fours and four sixes. Mumbai took full advantage of a batting-friendly pitch and a tired Pondicherry attack.

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Akash Anand scored an unbeaten 107

Akash Anand scored an unbeaten 107, his third hundred in nine matches. Sarfaraz Khan made 67 from 113 balls but fell just when he looked set for a bigger score. Thakur smashed a quick 56 from 32 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours, before retiring hurt.

Lad's 160-run stand with Sarfaraz Khan

Lad shared a 160-run stand with Sarfaraz for the fourth wicket, playing confidently on both sides of the field. He smashed two sixes each over long-on and long-off and kept finding the gaps with ease. Then he added another 110 runs with Anand for the fifth wicket, as Pondicherry’s bowlers, including captain Sagar Udeshi, all went for over 100 runs.

Sarfaraz celebrated reaching his fifty, but he edged one outside off soon after and was caught behind. Anand and Thakur later put on 100 runs off just 68 balls.

Thakur punished anything short or wide, sending powerful sixes over the leg side, while Anand hit eight fours in his unbeaten 107 off 122 balls.

Anand said the Wankhede pitch still had something in it for bowlers who worked hard, and he also praised the effort of the Pondicherry spinners.

Brief scores

Mumbai 630/5 in 147 overs (Musheer Khan 84, Akhil Herwadkar 86, Siddhesh Lad 170, Sarfaraz Khan 67, Akash Anand 107 not out, Shardul Thakur 56 retd hurt; Sabhay Chadha 2/146) lead Pondicherry 43/4 in 12 overs (Mohit Kale 13 not out; Shardul Thakur 3/17, Tushar Deshpande 1/7) by 587 runs.