Siddhesh Lad's unbeaten 80 on captaincy debut anchors Mumbai's 429 against Chandigarh

Siddhesh Lad marked his first match as Mumbai captain with an unbeaten 80 and a personal milestone as his side were bowled out for 429 at the Wankhede Stadium

Mumbai opened their Ranji Trophy campaign against Chandigarh by batting into a second day for 429 in 136.5 overs, a total built on their new captain's patience after the top order had been pulled apart on the opening morning.

Lad was 80 not out from 176 balls at stumps on day one, having walked in at the fall of the second wicket, and he passed 5,000 first-class runs for Mumbai on the day he first led them.

Chandigarh, who had put Mumbai in, were 15 for 0 in reply and trailed by 414 runs.

A new captain at the Wankhede

Lad, 34, has taken over a side that has won 42 Ranji Trophy titles, more than any other, and last lifted the trophy in 2023-24.

He was appointed before the season with the 19-year-old opener Ayush Mhatre as his deputy, and he came to the job as Mumbai's leading run-scorer in last season's competition, with 774 runs in eight matches.

Mumbai's coach, Omkar Salvi, said the appointment reflected what Lad brings to a dressing room as much as what he brings to the crease. "His calm demeanour at the crease brings calmness to the dressing room," Salvi said.

The squad is also backed by the 1983 World Cup winner Sandeep Patil as mentor and the former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar as advisor, with Salvi saying Patil's "small, small tips are definitely going to help the players."

Jaiswal and Sarfaraz go cheaply

Yashasvi Jaiswal, back in domestic cricket, lasted 13 balls for 0, edging Jagjit Singh to slip in the third over.

Sarfaraz Khan fared little better, lbw to Rohit Dhanda for 1 from six balls, a dismissal that left Mumbai 144 for 4 and their new captain with the innings to rebuild.

Dhanda was the pick of the Chandigarh attack with 3-44, accounting for Mhatre, Musheer Khan and Sarfaraz on the opening day.

Musheer and Mhatre lay the platform

Mhatre made 48 from 82 balls with seven fours and a six before Dhanda bowled him, having added 76 for the second wicket with Musheer Khan.

Musheer Khan went on to 65 from 149 balls with four fours, caught behind by Akshit Rana off Dhanda with the score 142 for 3.

Akash Anand contributed 22 from 36 balls before Nishunk Birla had him caught at slip, the fifth wicket falling at 184 and the innings briefly at risk of subsiding altogether.

Lad reaches 5,000 for Mumbai

Lad batted 255 minutes on the opening day and reached his 31st first-class fifty from 135 balls, striking eight fours in all.

He and Shams Mulani, 27 not out from 46 balls, were together at the close, the sixth-wicket pair having steadied an innings that had been 144 for 4.

"The fight was tough. We lost a few wickets, but the scoreboard doesn't look too bad," Salvi said of the day's play.

Chandigarh's reply begins

Mumbai were eventually bowled out for 429, their last five wickets worth 180 runs after the overnight 249 for 5.

Chandigarh reached 15 for 0 from six overs in reply, still 414 runs behind on first innings, with the bulk of two days still to play.

Mumbai's opening fixture of a campaign for a record-extending 43rd title is scheduled to run to October 14.

Scorecard: Mumbai 429 (136.5 overs) - Siddhesh Lad 80 not out overnight, Musheer Khan 65, Ayush Mhatre 48; Rohit Dhanda 3-44 - lead Chandigarh 15 for 0 (6 overs) by 414 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

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