Published: Dec 10, 2014, 09:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 11, 2014, 01:12 AM (IST)
Not only did Jammu and Kashmir manage to create history for themselves, they also managed to become the third team to beat Bombay (now Mumbai) in their opening match of the tournament. Abhishek Mukherjee goes down memory lane to check Bombay’s performances in their opening matches of India’s premier domestic tournament.
Mumbai shocked fans, critics, statisticians, and historians by losing by four wickets to unheralded Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) in their opening encounter of Ranji Trophy 2014-15. Having won the title 40 out of 80 times it has been held, Mumbai remain the best team in the tournament by a distance.
Mumbai have lost their opening match only twice before, before their famous run of 15 title wins from the 1958-59 to 1972-73 took off (they played under their old name of Bombay at that time). Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia Maharaja Fatehsinghrao Prataprao Gaekwad, to give the full name of the Maharaja of Baroda, was the first captain to inflict defeat on Bombay in their first match of a single season — at Baroda in 1949-50.
Madhav Mantri decided to bat, but the Baroda stars, especially Vijay Hazare (five for 48) shot out Bombay for 114. Datta Gaekwad then scored 108 to give Baroda a comfortable 219-run lead. Facing an innings defeat, only Polly Umrigar (86) put up a serious effort as Hazare and Gul Mohammad bowled them out for 201.
The only other instance came three seasons later at Solapur. Though Ranga Sohoni (six for 78) bowled out Maharashtra for 167, the hosts fought back: Sadashiv Patil bowled unchanged for five for 45, Marutirao Mathe provided excellent support with four for 47, and Bombay were restricted to 112.
Bombay fought back yet again, reducing Maharashtra to 120 for seven. Then Mathe extended his contribution in the match, top-scoring with 83; with Bal Dani and Chandu Borde also registering fifties, Maharashtra recovered to 271, setting a 327-run target. This time Ghulam Guard claimed six for 78.
Prabhakar Kamat and Mohini Amladi took Bombay to 92 for one, but the Maharashtra bowlers kept striking. Bombay were left reeling at 223 for nine when Guard walked out to join Avinash Desai. They still needed 104, but they refused to give up. While Guard held one end up, Desai kept on playing shots — till he was caught-behind off Patil for 76. Bombay lost by 19 runs.
J & K thus became the first side to beat Mumbai in Mumbai in their opening match of the season.
[Note: Historians disagree on the outcome of the 1954-55 match between Bombay and Baroda. Bombay scored 258 before Baroda went past them with 284 for three, and were declared winners on first innings. However, some refuse to accept this as a proper defeat.]
|
SEASON |
RESULT |
TEAM 1 |
INNS 1 |
INNS 2 |
TEAM 2 |
INNS 1 |
INNS 2 |
VENUE |
|
34-35 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
231 |
300/7d |
Gujarat |
106 |
166/4 |
Ahmedabad |
|
35-36 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
308 |
295 |
Maharashtra |
228 |
Poona |
|
|
36-37 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
174 |
277/6d |
Nawanagar (Saurashtra) |
263 |
137/7 |
Poona |
|
37-38 |
won by 3 wickets |
Gujarat |
166 |
98 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
115 |
152/7 |
Jamnagar |
|
38-39 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
441/6d |
Baroda |
326 |
Baroda |
||
|
39-40 |
drawn |
Nawanagar (Saurashtra) |
387 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
351 |
Bombay |
||
|
40-41 |
drawn |
Maharashtra |
675 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
650 |
Poona |
||
|
41-42 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
462 |
Western India |
95 |
167/5 |
Bombay |
|
|
42-43 |
did not participate |
|||||||
|
43-44 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
487 |
Baroda |
297 |
Bombay |
||
|
44-45 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
432 |
16/1 |
Sind |
264 |
244/4d |
Karachi |
|
45-46 |
won by inns + 20 |
Sind |
234 |
306 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
560/5d |
Bombay |
|
|
46-47 |
won by inns + 27 |
Nawanagar (Saurashtra) |
69 |
240 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
336 |
Bombay |
|
|
47-48 |
won by inns + 453 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
638/8d |
Sind |
128 |
57 |
Bombay |
|
|
48-49 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
574/8d |
127/2 |
Bengal |
251 |
Calcutta |
|
|
49-50 |
lost by inns + 18 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
114 |
201 |
Baroda |
333 |
Baroda |
|
|
50-51 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
725/8d |
Maharashtra |
195 |
341/6 |
Bombay |
|
|
51-52 |
won by inns + 323 |
Saurashtra |
119 |
25 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
467/8d |
Bombay |
|
|
52-53 |
lost by 19 runs |
Maharashtra |
167 |
271 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
112 |
307 |
Solapur |
|
53-54 |
won by 8 wickets |
Baroda |
117 |
251 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
249 |
122/2 |
Bombay |
|
54-55 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
258 |
Baroda |
284/3 |
Baroda |
||
|
55-56 |
drawn |
Baroda |
306 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
307/6 |
Bombay |
||
|
56-57 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
525 |
49/1 |
Gujarat |
222 |
366 |
Bombay |
|
57-58 |
drawn |
Gujarat |
250 |
282 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
406/4d |
61/0 |
Khadakvasla |
|
58-59 |
won by inns + 75 |
Gujarat |
96 |
63 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
234 |
Ahmedabad |
|
|
59-60 |
won by inns + 219 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
373/8d |
Gujarat |
43 |
111 |
Bombay |
|
|
60-61 |
won by inns + 187 |
Gujarat |
94 |
104 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
385/5d |
Bombay |
|
|
61-62 |
drawn |
Baroda |
225 |
251/4d |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
238 |
133/1 |
Baroda |
|
62-63 |
won by 10 wickets |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
303 |
29/0 |
Saurashtra |
106 |
221 |
Rajkot |
|
63-64 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
249 |
106/3d |
Maharashtra |
197 |
62/1 |
Bombay |
|
64-65 |
won by inns + 5 |
Gujarat |
85 |
161 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
251 |
Bombay |
|
|
65-66 |
won by 8 wickets |
Gujarat |
268 |
101 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
324/7d |
48/2 |
Surat |
|
66-67 |
drawn |
Maharashtra |
327 |
68/6 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
326 |
Aurangabad |
|
|
67-68 |
drawn |
Gujarat |
272 |
182/8 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
426/9d |
Ahmedabad |
|
|
68-69 |
drawn |
Baroda |
282 |
276/8 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
439/8d |
Bombay |
|
|
69-70 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
396 |
51/0 |
Maharashtra |
414/6d |
Bombay |
|
|
70-71 |
won by inns + 89 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
384 |
Baroda |
116 |
179 |
Bombay |
|
|
71-72 |
won by inns + 157 |
Gujarat |
65 |
98 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
320/6d |
Surat |
|
|
72-73 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
357 |
142/4 |
Maharashtra |
366 |
Kolhapur |
|
|
73-74 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
210 |
190/4d |
Gujarat |
161 |
136/3 |
Nadiad |
|
74-75 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
319 |
41/0d |
Saurashtra |
182 |
138/8 |
Porbandar |
|
75-76 |
won by 5 wickets |
Gujarat |
241 |
100 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
243/3d |
102/5 |
Bulsar |
|
76-77 |
won by 163 runs |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
79 |
268/3d |
Saurashtra |
109 |
75 |
Surendranagar |
|
77-78 |
drawn |
Saurashtra |
161 |
56/1 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
210/7d |
Bombay |
|
|
78-79 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
408/5d |
8/0 |
Baroda |
389 |
Bombay |
|
|
79-80 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
440/6d |
59/0 |
Maharashtra |
359 |
Bombay |
|
|
80-81 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
171 |
151/5 |
Saurashtra |
106 |
Bhuj |
|
|
81-82 |
won by inns + 61 |
Maharashtra |
188 |
110 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
359/6d |
Bombay |
|
|
82-83 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
370 |
145/3d |
Maharashtra |
279 |
112/4 |
Kolhapur |
|
83-84 |
drawn |
Gujarat |
301/8d |
193 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
317/7d |
129/4 |
Valsad |
|
84-85 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
310/6d |
330/9d |
Maharashtra |
318/8d |
212/6 |
Pune |
|
85-86 |
won by 9 wickets |
Gujarat |
290 |
82 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
301/4d |
72/1 |
Surat |
|
86-87 |
won by inns + 11 |
Saurashtra |
181 |
153 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
345/6d |
Porbandar |
|
|
87-88 |
drawn |
Baroda |
536/6d |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
451/4 |
Vadodara |
||
|
88-89 |
drawn |
Gujarat |
140 |
306 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
394/6d |
43/2 |
Bombay |
|
89-90 |
drawn |
Gujarat |
356 |
159/4 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
495/5d |
Surat |
|
|
90-91 |
won by 10 wickets |
Gujarat |
231 |
400 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
608/4d |
24/0 |
Bombay |
|
91-92 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
554/4d |
272/6d |
Gujarat |
242 |
121/6 |
Surat |
|
92-93 |
drawn |
Baroda |
347 |
385/5d |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
510 |
81/2 |
Bombay |
|
93-94 |
won by inns + 118 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
523 |
Baroda |
279 |
126 |
Vadodara |
|
|
94-95 |
drawn |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
573/9d |
121/3 |
Maharashtra |
361 |
Solapur |
|
|
95-96 |
won by inns + 110 |
Gujarat |
215 |
105 |
Bombay (Mumbai) |
430/8d |
Valsad |
|
|
96-97 |
won by inns + 190 |
Mumbai |
451 |
Gujarat |
113 |
148 |
Mumbai |
|
|
97-98 |
won by inns + 68 |
Gujarat |
182 |
161 |
Mumbai |
411/8d |
Valsad |
|
|
98-99 |
won by inns + 27 |
Gujarat |
90 |
256 |
Mumbai |
373/5d |
Mumbai |
|
|
99-00 |
won by inns + 11 |
Maharashtra |
142 |
148 |
Mumbai |
301 |
Mumbai |
|
|
00-01 |
won by 9 wickets |
Mumbai |
521/5d |
5/1 |
Gujarat |
274 |
250 |
Mumbai |
|
01-02 |
won by 7 wickets |
Maharashtra |
216 |
98 |
Mumbai |
250 |
65/3 |
Mumbai |
|
02-03 |
won by 69 runs |
Mumbai |
98 |
337 |
Hyderabad |
130 |
236 |
Secunderabad |
|
’03-04 |
won by 5 wickets |
Baroda |
213 |
270 |
Mumbai |
324 |
160/5 |
Mumbai |
|
04-05 |
drawn |
Mumbai |
361 |
221/3 |
Railways |
284 |
Delhi |
|
|
05-06 |
drawn |
Mumbai |
551 |
166/3 |
Delhi |
331 |
Delhi |
|
|
06-07 |
drawn |
Bengal |
578/7d |
Mumbai |
372 |
23/0 |
Kolkata |
|
|
’07-08 |
drawn |
Karnataka |
195 |
397/6d |
Mumbai |
337 |
70/2 |
Mumbai |
|
08-09 |
won by 237 runs |
Mumbai |
307 |
305/7d |
Rajasthan |
204 |
171 |
Mumbai |
|
09-10 |
drawn |
Punjab |
259 |
311/7 |
Mumbai |
471/9d |
Chandigarh |
|
|
10-11 |
drawn |
Mumbai |
580/9d |
207/2 |
Saurashtra |
374 |
Mumbai |
|
|
11-12 |
won by 10 wickets |
Mumbai |
483 |
20/0 |
Railways |
256 |
244 |
Delhi |
|
12-13 |
drawn |
Mumbai |
570 |
230/5 |
Railways |
426 |
Mumbai |
|
|
13-14 |
won by 4 wickets |
Haryana |
134 |
241 |
Mumbai |
136 |
240/6 |
Rohtak |
|
14-15 |
lost by 4 wickets |
Mumbai |
236 |
254 |
Jammu and Kashmir |
254 |
237/6 |
Mumbai |
(Abhishek Mukherjee is the Chief Editor and Cricket Historian at CricketCountry. He blogs here and can be followed on Twitter here.)
