Ranji Trophy Final, MUM vs VID | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

Mumbai is aiming for their 42nd Ranji Trophy title (Twitter)

In a historic clash that harks back to an era of fierce intra-state rivalries, Mumbai and Vidarbha are gearing up to cross swords in the Ranji Trophy 2024 final. 

The domestic cricketing giants are set to lock horns starting Sunday, March 10, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, marking a momentous occasion as the first state-derby final in over half a century in India's premier red-ball competition.

The upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024 final serves as a rare sequel in the 90-year story of the Ranji Trophy, replicating a scenario witnessed only once before when Mumbai (then Bombay) battled the Maharashtra Cricket Team in the 1971 final at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.

MUM vs VID: Team Previews

Mumbai

Under Ajinkya Rahane's leadership, Mumbai showcased their dominance by securing their spot in the final with some impressive cricket. 

After drawing against Baroda in the quarter-finals, they displayed sheer dominance in the semi-finals against Tamil Nadu, clinching an emphatic victory by an innings and 70 runs.

Shardul Thakur emerged as a star player for Mumbai, scoring a spectacular 109 that propelled the team to a commanding lead, followed by a crucial two-wicket haul that sealed their fate to the finals.

Vidarbha

Captained by Akshay Wadekar, Vidarbha has been the dark horse of the tournament, defying odds and expectations. Their journey to the summit clash was paved with remarkable victories over cricketing heavyweights.

The quarter-final victory against Karnataka by 127 runs, followed by a nail-biting win over the 2022 champions Madhya Pradesh by 62 runs, showed their magnificent form. 

Yash Rathod's century against Madhya Pradesh proved Vidarbha's fighting spirit, turning the tides and setting a challenging fourth-innings target that ultimately led to their victory.

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MUM vs VID: Match Details & Live Streaming

MUM vs VID: Wankhede Stadium Pitch Report

Throughout the 26 Test matches hosted at the Wankhede Stadium, victories have been fairly evenly distributed, with 11 wins for teams batting first and 8 for those chasing, alongside 7 draws. The pitch tends to favour those who bat first, evidenced by an average first innings score of 339, indicating a solid platform for setting competitive totals. The Wankhede pitch is renowned for its lively nature, offering fast bowlers substantial carry and bounce initially, with the new ball also swinging. 

However, as the game progresses and the ball wears, the dynamics shift significantly towards spin bowling. The surface begins to offer more assistance to spinners, who can exploit the wear and tear to trouble batsmen during the latter stages of the match. The captain winning the toss will look to bat first, build a hefty first innings total, and then exploit the deteriorating pitch conditions to challenge the opposition in the second innings. 

MUM vs VID: Probable Playing XIs

Mumbai: Prithvi Shaw, Bhupen Lalwani, Musheer Khan, Mohit Avasthi, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Tamore (wk), Shams Mulani, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande

Vidarbha: Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair, Akshay Wadkar (c & wk), Aditya Sarwate, Yash Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Akshay Wakhare, Aman Mokhade

MUM vs VID: Fantoss Fantasy Tips

MUM vs VID: Winner Prediction

Considering the current form, home advantage, and familiarity with the conditions, Mumbai are the favourites to win the Ranji Trophy 2024 final.

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