In the Ranji Trophy, AjinkyaRahane got two ducks in two games, sparking concern.
AjinkyaRahane, the veteran Indian batter and Mumbai captain, endured another frustrating outing in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, registering a golden duck for the second consecutive match. Kerala’s potent pace attack, spearheaded by Basil Thampi and Vishweshwar Suresh, sent Mumbai reeling at 54/3 at the end of the first session on day one of their Elite Group B clash in Thumba.
The woes began right from the first ball, with Thampi finding Jay Bista plumb LBW. He then turned his attention to the prized wicket of AjinkyaRahane, forcing the Mumbai skipper to nick one through to Sanju Samson behind the stumps—a dismissal that sent shivers through the Mumbai lineup.
This latest duck extends Rahane’s struggles in the Ranji Trophy. His failure to score comes on the heels of another golden duck in Mumbai’s previous match against Andhra, raising concerns about his form and confidence.
With Mumbai leading the group with 14 points from two games, this unexpected stumble against Kerala throws the race for dominance wide open. Meanwhile, Kerala, currently sitting in fifth position with four points, will be aiming to capitalize on Mumbai’s vulnerabilities and push for a crucial first-inning advantage.
AjinkyaRahane struggles, however, and remains the talking point. The experienced batsman, who has been battling for his spot in the Indian Test team, will need to find his mojo quickly if he wants to silence the doubters and reclaim his place in the national side.