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Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Mumbai on the brink of victory after Deshpande’s five-wicket burst

Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Chandigarh took a dramatic turn on day two, with Tushar Deshpande’s explosive bowling performance steering his side toward a historic victory. The 31-year-old’s sixth First-Class five-wicket haul—including a hat-trick in the 11th over—shattered Chandigarh’s resistance, reducing them to their second-lowest total of 78 runs in just 115 balls.

His opening spell of 7-1-17-5 dismantled the opposition’s batting order, while his aggressive lower-order batting (44 off 47 balls) set the stage for Mumbai’s 429-run total, anchored by Tanush Kotian’s half-century and Mohit Avasthi’s unbeaten 56 despite cramps. With only one over remaining before stumps, Deshpande sealed the chase by dismissing Vishu Kashyap, leaving Mumbai just nine runs short of a comprehensive win.

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