Shams Mulani’s seven-wicket haul spun Mumbai to a 35-run victory against Jammu & Kashmir in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy at the Sher E Kashmir Stadium on Saturday (October 18, 2025).
On the fourth and final day of their Elite Group-D fixture, the host, which was 21 for one overnight, was bowled out for 207 in pursuit of 243. It is Mumbai’s first win over J&K in three meetings. Mulani ended with exceptional figures of 20.4-4-46-7.
With Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra forging a 53-run stand for the third wicket, it was when Shardul Thakur brought in the spin pairing of Mulani and Tanush Kotian that Mumbai regained control of proceedings. Soon after, in the 26th over, there was drama when Qamran was given out for obstructing the field after using his hand to intercept Sarfaraz Khan’s throw from square leg. Even as Abdul Samad strode into the playing arena to join Dogra, Qamran continued to plead innocence with the on-field umpires over the unusual dismissal. He was eventually allowed to continue as Mumbai withdrew the appeal.
The partnership didn’t carry on for much longer. In the very next over, Mulani managed to spin one past Dogra’s forward defence and uproot the stumps. With Samad and Kanhaiya Wadhawan dismissed by Kotian and Mulani respectively before lunch, J&K went into the break at 127 for five in 41 overs.
In the second over after resumption, Mulani struck for the third time. The mode of dismissal was similar to Dogra’s, with the ball spinning sharply past Qamran’s bat to hit the stumps. The 28-year-old left-arm spinner took his fifth wicket when Abid Mushtaq miscued one to Sarfaraz at midwicket. Next ball, Yudhvir Singh was cleaned up.
Although Auqib Nabi struck a couple of sixes in a 30-run partnership for the last wicket with Umar Nazir, Mulani fittingly trapped the latter leg-before to clinch a tense win.
The scores:
Mumbai — 1st innings: 386.
J&K — 1st innings: 325.
Mumbai — 2nd innings: 181.
J&K — 2nd innings (Target 243): Qamran Iqbal b Mulani 56, Shubham Khajuria lbw b Deshpande 0, Musaif Ajaz lbw b Thakur 10, Paras Dogra b Mulani 29, Abdul Samad c&b Kotian 15, Kanhaiya Wadhawan b Mulani 5, Sahil Lotra b Mulani 29, Abid Mushtaq c Sarfaraz b Mulani 18, Auqib Nabi (not out) 37, Yudhvir Singh b Mulani, Umar Nazir lbw b Mulani 7; Extras (w-1): 1
Total (in 64.4 overs): 207.
Fall of wicket: 1-4, 2-31, 3-84, 4-103, 5-110, 6-131, 7-156, 8-177, 9-177.
Mumbai bowling: Thakur 9-1-31-1, Deshpande 15-2-56-1, Umair 3-0-12-0, Kotian 17-2-62-1, Mulani 20.4-4-46-7.