the former India Opener Aakash Chopra pointed out a major flaw in the Ranji Trophy format, citing the example of the Mumbai vs Uttar Pradesh semi-final. Prithvi Shaw-led Mumbai advanced to the final of the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy on the basis of their first innings lead over UP in the semi-finals that concluded on Saturday.
Riding on hundreds of Hardik Tamor and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mumbai scored 393 in the first innings, in reply UP were bundled out for 180. A crucial lead of 213 runs helped Mumbai reach the final of the tournament.
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Chopra criticized the format and said that Mumbai did not bother to try to win the match as they depended on the lead to earn a place in the summit clash.
“Mumbai deserved to reach the final but their lead (at the end of Day 4) was 662 runs. It’s a problem with the format and it’s my big issue. If the Ranji Trophy match winner is to be decided on the basis of first innings lead, then why play? Mumbai did not even try to win the semi-finals. There was no intention of pushing for victory. He continued to bat after taking the first innings lead. It broke my heart,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
However, the former India opener claims that Mumbai will be a strong contender to win the final as he also heaped praise on young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for scoring centuries in both the semi-final innings.
“Mumbai have made it to yet another Ranji Trophy final and will start as strong favourites. Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown that he can be a protector as well as a destroyer. It was only his third first-class match and scoring a century in both the innings against a good team from UP was a commendable effort.”
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The team, coached by Amol Majumdar, scored 449 for four when the stumps were pulled in their second essay, taking an overall lead of 662 runs.
Jaiswal (181), who scored his maiden century in the quarter-finals, scored back-to-back centuries in the current one as he and Jaffer (127) thwarted a listless attack on Uttar Pradesh.
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