Ranji Trophy: Captain Siddhesh Lad stands tall for Mumbai against Chandigarh

Nairavoice | Oct 12, 2026 1h ago 182 0 3 min read

Ranji Trophy: Captain Siddhesh Lad stands tall for Mumbai against Chandigarh

MUMBAI: Siddhesh Lad carried last season’s rich form into the new one, playing a captain’s hand to rescue Mumbai on a testing opening day of their Elite Group D Ranji Trophy match against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Lad, Mumbai’s dependable crisis man, remained unbeaten on 80 off 176 balls, with eight fours, as the hosts reached 249/5 at stumps after being asked to bat first.

The 34-year-old, who was Mumbai’s highest run-getter in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy with 774 runs in eight matches, spent 255 minutes at the crease and completed 5,000 first-class runs for Mumbai on his first day as captain.

Mumbai were in trouble at 144/4 in the 57th over after Sarfaraz Khan fell for 1 shortly before tea. Lad then added 40 for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Akash Anand, who made 22 off 36 balls.

After Anand was caught at slip off left-arm spinner Nishunk Birla, Lad found another steady partner in Shams Mulani. The pair added an unbroken 68 off 98 balls for the sixth wicket, with Mulani unbeaten on 27.

Lad reached his 31st first-class half-century off 135 balls and is now closing in on his 16th first-class hundred.

Mumbai were hit early when India Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a 13-ball duck, edging Jagjit Singh to second slip in the third over. Sarfaraz was later adjudged lbw to pacer Nikhil Dhanda while shouldering arms. The decision left him visibly unhappy.

Sarfaraz’s wicket came soon after Musheer Khan was caught behind off Dhanda, giving Chandigarh two key breakthroughs in successive overs. Dhanda finished the day as the pick of the bowlers with 3/44 in 15 overs. Musheer had earlier made a patient 65 off 149 balls, with four fours. He and vice-captain Ayush Mhatre rebuilt the innings after Jaiswal’s early dismissal, adding 76 for the second wicket in 145 balls. Mhatre showed more enterprise during his 48 off 82 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, before Dhanda bowled him with one that came back in. Musheer and Lad then added 65 for the third wicket.

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Mumbai head coach Omkar Salvi praised Lad’s commitment to red-ball cricket and his influence on younger players.

“I think it’s his passion to play red-ball cricket. He is very passionate about it, which helps him and the team. The way he guides the younger players, his calmness, it enables them to express themselves,” Salvi said after the day’s play. “Over the last two seasons, the way Siddhesh has grown as a player, you can see his leadership qualities. His calm demeanour at the crease brings calmness to the dressing room. He has seen highs and lows, so he is a very settled player now. He uses his experience very well, and it helps the team.”