The 2024 Ranji Trophy season is approaching its climax following the commencement of the tournament on January 5, which saw 38 teams competing for the coveted title. Following seven rounds of rigorous battles in both the Elite and Plate groups, along with four tightly fought quarter-final encounters, the competition has now narrowed down to four teams for the semi-final stage.
What happened in the quarter-finals?
The four quarter-final matches delivered fascinating contests between bat and ball with several players rising up to the occasion and succeeding in making an impression with their performance. Mumbai defeated Baroda while Vidarbha got the better of Karnataka. In the other two quarter-finals, Saurashtra tasted a defeat against Tamil Nadu while Madhya Pradesh defeated Andhra by a slim margin of four runs.
Rajni Trophy 2024 Semi-Final line-up:
In the first semi-final, Vidarbha will lock horns against Madhya Pradesh while in the second semi-final, heavyweights Mumbai will square off against Tamil Nadu. Both the semi-finals are scheduled to begin on March 2. The venues for the semi-finals are yet to be announced.
Mumbai secures most points in group stage
Mumbai, led by the seasoned Ajinkya Rahane, once again dominated the Elite group, amassing the highest points at 37 after seven rounds. Mumbai's performance included five wins, one draw, and a single loss, showcasing their formidable presence in the tournament. Following closely, Andhra Pradesh secured the second spot in Group B.
In Elite Group A, Vidarbha topped the charts with 33 points, while Saurashtra, with 29 points, took the second place. Tamil Nadu led Group C with 28 points, closely followed by Karnataka with 27 points. Madhya Pradesh and Baroda made their mark in Group D, finishing first and second with 32 and 24 points, respectively.
A campaign to forget for Manipur and Goa
In a significant shift for the next season, Manipur and Goa will be moving down to the Plate group, while Hyderabad and Meghalaya, having excelled in the Plate group finals, will be elevated to the Elite group, replacing Manipur and Goa. In the Elite Group A, Manipur found itself at the bottom of the table, unable to secure a win throughout the season. Similarly, Goa ended up last in Group C.
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