On the opening day of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, Maharashtra's big names failed against Jammu and Kashmir at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad who has been recalled into ODI team for South Africa series did not fare well and departed for a single-digit score alongwith opener Prithvi Shaw. Jammu & Kashmir beat Maharashtra by five wickets with eight balls to spare.
Maharashtra’s big names fail
Jammu & Kashmir skipper Shubham Khajuria won the toss and opted to bowl first. Auqib Nabi dismissed Shaw who scored just five runs from as many balls. In the fourth over, Arshin Kulkarni's cameo ended. Abid Mushtaq dismissed the opener for a 13-ball 20. The opener hit three fours and a six. Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi were dismissed for single-digit scores by Yudhvir Singh and Umran Malik respectively. In the ninth over, Murugan Ashwin dismissed Azim Kazi as Maharashtra lost half the side for 55.
After sixth wicket fell in the 12th over, Nikhil Naik and Vicky Ostwal struggle to rotate strike or hit boundaries. Naik and Ostwal faced 25 deliveries each to score 19 and 21 runs respectively. Nabi took three, whereas Yudhvir, Mushtaq and Malik got two wickets apiece. Maharashtra were bowled out for 130 in 19.5 overs.
Slow start, but lower order leads Jammu & Kashmir home
Jammu & Kashmir were cautious in the powerplay overs. They shared a 48-run partnership from 43 balls. Kulkarni broke the partnership with Qamran Iqbal's wicket. Iqbal scored 28 runs from 27 deliveries. Vivrant Sharma fell for a run-a-ball 11 in the 11th over. Skiper Khajuria could not continue and lost his wicket in the same over for a run-a-ball 26. Musaif Aziz played too many dot deliveries and managed to score just five runs from 12 balls. He lost his wicket to Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
Abdul Samad hit a six and a four each before getting knocked over by Hangargekar for a 16-ball 20. Wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan and Mushtaq's unbeaten cameos helped Jammu & Kashmir get over the line with eight balls to spare. Wadhawan hit three fours in his 11-ball 19. Mushtaq hit a six and two fours in his 9-ball 18.