Siddhesh Lad's unbeaten 80 anchors Mumbai's fightback to 249/5 as Sandeep Patil's presence steadies Ranji opener
Mumbai's new Ranji Trophy campaign began with a familiar pattern of struggle and recovery. Put in on a tricky, greenish Wankhede Stadium pitch after losing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early, the 42-time champions dug in behind skipper Siddhesh Lad's unbeaten 80 to finish day one of their season opener against Chandigarh on Sunday (October 11) at a respectable 249 for five.
Behind the scenes, the team believes a key steadying influence was a man not holding a bat at all: Sandeep Patil, the former Mumbai captain and former India coach, who was in the Mumbai dressing room throughout the day in his role as team mentor.
'His voice, his experience': Salvi hails mentor's influence
Coach Omkar Salvi said the presence of the 1983 World Cup winner had been a genuinely helpful one as Mumbai navigated a difficult morning against Chandigarh's attack.
"I think with the experience that Sandeep Patil sir has, and the way you know his personality, he is always going to be helpful for the team. Always, definitely, the senior players are there, but you know, his voice, his experience, his knowledge of the game, and his small, small tips are definitely going to help the players," Salvi said after the first day's play.
Patil is far from the only household name lending a hand to Mumbai cricket. Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar — a fellow 1983 World Cup winner who played 116 Tests — serves as the team's advisor, and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is keen for the record domestic champions, who last won the Ranji Trophy in the 2023-24 season, to re-establish their hegemony in India's premier first-class competition.
"Legends Dilip Vengsarkar and Sandeep Patil continue to enrich Mumbai teams (men and women) across all age groups with their vast experience. Equally invaluable has been the contribution of Diana Edulji and Raju Kulkarni through the CIC over the years in strengthening Mumbai cricket," MCA president Ajinkya Naik said. "Their love for Mumbai cricket and commitment to giving back to the game that shaped them is truly inspiring."
Lad's milestone knock anchors the recovery
Salvi was broadly satisfied with the day's proceedings even though Mumbai did not make a convincing start after being asked to bat, praising his captain for anchoring the innings and reaching a personal milestone in the process — Lad completed 5,000 runs for Mumbai on Sunday.
"The fight was tough. We lost a few wickets, but the scoreboard doesn't look too bad," the coach said. "Over the last two seasons, Siddhesh has grown as a player, and you can also see his leadership qualities coming to the fore. The way he remains calm and composed at the crease brings a sense of calmness to the dressing room as well. I have seen his failures and I have seen his highs. Overall, he is now a very settled player. He is very passionate about playing red ball cricket."
With Lad still at the crease on 80 and legends like Patil and Vengsarkar watching on from the dressing room, Mumbai will look to push on towards a substantial first-innings total on day two as they chase a first Ranji Trophy title since their 2023-24 triumph.