On the third day of the Ranji Trophy 2024–25 Group A match, India and Maharashtra batter Ruturaj Gaikwad struck a valiant century. After being out for a duck in the first innings, the Maharashtra captain made up by hitting a fantastic 145 (171) in the second on Sunday, October 20, at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC in Mumbai.
With 16 fours and two sixes in his innings, Gaikwad enabled his team to chip away at Mumbai's enormous first-inning advantage of 315. After Shardul Thakur had bowled opener Siddhesh Veer for a duck, he came in to bat with Maharashtra being on 1/1. Gaikwad and Sachin Dhas, who both hit an incredible 98 runs, were involved in a mammoth 222-run stand for the second wicket, with the team in desperate need of a captain's knock. Finally, Ajinkya Rahane of Mumbai took a catch that removed for 145 on Shams Mulani's delivery.
In addition to him, Mumbai was set a target of 74 runs when Maharashtra was bowled out for 388 in the second innings thanks to a brilliant century from Ankit Bawne (101).
Yash Dhull fights lone battle for Delhi
Meanwhile, Yash Dhull, who reached his sixth first-class century, shone for Delhi in their Group D match against Tamil Nadu. As Tamil Nadu amassed a mammoth 674/6 in their first innings, Delhi was able to answer with 264/8 thanks to Dhull's unbeaten 103 as the lone warrior for his team.
Pranav Rajvanshi, who hit 40 and added 76 runs for the sixth wicket, provided considerable assistance to Dhull. He also participated in an important eighth-wicket stand of 58 runs with Navdeep Saini (26). There were three sixes and eleven fours in Dhull's innings. Delhi is in a risky situation despite his innings, trailing Tamil Nadu by 410 runs.
