Reliving the Epic Ranji Trophy Moments: From Kapil Dev’s Heroics to Tendulkar’s Farewell

The 1991 Ranji Trophy final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium remains etched in the memories of cricket enthusiasts. Kapil Dev’s all-round brilliance, Deepak Sharma’s heartbreak at 199, and the near-centuries by Ajay Jadeja, Chetan Sharma, and Sachin Tendulkar are still talked about. But it was Dilip Vengsarkar’s heroic unbeaten 139 that stole the show, even as Mumbai fell just two runs short of Haryana’s 355-run target. The image of a dejected Vengsarkar walking off while Kapil and his team celebrated their triumph is unforgettable.

Back then, star players featuring in the Ranji Trophy was the norm. Fast forward to October 2013, and the scenario had drastically changed. Domestic cricket had taken a backseat, with mainstream media barely paying attention. However, Sachin Tendulkar’s decision to play his final Ranji match for Mumbai ahead of his farewell Test series breathed new life into the competition.

The venue was the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli, Rohtak. The modest ground was ill-equipped for the sudden influx of media and fans, but special arrangements were made to accommodate the teams and stars. The atmosphere was electric, with all eyes on Tendulkar. The absurdity of the situation was highlighted when Mohit Sharma was asked if he regretted dismissing Tendulkar cheaply. “Any wicket gives you happiness, especially if it’s sir’s wicket,” Sharma replied politely.

Tendulkar’s old teammate, Ajay Jadeja, captained Haryana, leading a formidable side that included Mohit Sharma, Harshal Patel, and Joginder Sharma. Despite bowling Haryana out for 134, Mumbai, with Wasim Jaffer, Ajinkya Rahane, and Abhishek Nayar in their ranks, managed only a two-run lead. In the second innings, Zaheer Khan’s vintage performance set Mumbai a challenging target of 240.

When Tendulkar walked in at 87/2, the game hung in the balance. True to his legacy, he approached the innings with utmost seriousness. Facing a fiery pace attack and Jayant Yadav’s spin on a tricky pitch, Tendulkar relied on his impeccable defense, scoring mostly in singles and twos. His 79 not out off 175 balls, spanning nearly five hours, was a masterclass in patience and skill. Mumbai won by four wickets, with Dhawal Kulkarni providing crucial support in an unbeaten 50-run partnership.

Though Tendulkar fell short of his 82nd first-class century, his 79* was worth its weight in gold. Jadeja summed it up perfectly: “We had to get Tendulkar. There’s no team in the world that can win when Tendulkar is in the opposition, and you don’t get him out. We tried, but we couldn’t. You call him God. I call him master. Who can fight God and win?”

Indeed, Tendulkar’s farewell Ranji innings was a testament to his greatness, reminding us why he is revered as the Master.