Ranji Trophy quarterfinals: Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane hits his first century of season, stakes claim for middle-order spot on England tour

Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane scored his first century of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. In the second innings of quarterfinal clash against Haryana at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Rahane reached his century from 160 balls and helped his side set a target of 354.

Rahane hit 13 fours in his 108-run knock from 180 balls. This is his 42nd first-class century. He was dismissed by Haryana pacer Anuj Thakral in the first session of Day 4. 

Along with Rahane, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav regained his form as well and scored 70 runs from 86 balls. Suryakumar hit eight fours and a couple of sixes. Siddhesh Lad (43) and Shivam Dube (48) missed their respective half-centuries by a few runs. After Rahane's wicket, Mumbai suffered a batting collapse. They lost six wickets for just 25 runs and were bowled out for 339 in their second innings. Apart from Thakral, Anshul Kamboj, Sumit Kumar and Jayant Yadav claimed a couple of wickets each.

In the first innings, Rahane got a start but fell to express pacer Kamboj. He scored 31 runs from 58 deliveries. Mumbai lost seven wickets for 113 runs. Shams Mulani (91) and Tanush Kotian's (97) partnership helped Mumbai post 315 on the board.

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In the ongoing season, Rahane is Mumbai's fourth-highest run-scorer after Lad, Shreyas Iyer and teenager Ayush Mhatre. The 36-year-old has scored 437 runs from 12 innings at an average of 39.72. Apart from the century, he scored 96 against Meghalaya in the must-win group stage match following defeat against Jammu and Kashmir.

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Rahane's record in England

The veteran Mumbai batter has been missing from India's Test squad since their tour of West Indies in 2023. While Rahane is considered a good batter in overseas conditions, his record in England is not impressive. From 31 innings on England soil, he has scored 864 runs at an average of 28.80 including a century and six half-centuries. His last appearance in Test cricket on England soil was in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia where he registered scores of 89 and 46.