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An eight-decade-long wait! Throwback to when Gujarat fulfilled their Ranji Trophy title dream

Poulomi Chakraborty

The champion of 2016-17 Ranji Trophy (Source: @GujaratRanji/x.com)The champion of 2016-17 Ranji Trophy (Source: @GujaratRanji/x.com)

Forget the glamour of T20s and ODIs, the real cricketing drama simmers in the Ranji Trophy, a battlefield of raw talents with eyes full of dreams to achieve the long-desired glory. As every coin has two different sides, Ranji has seen two kinds of teams, like Mumbai, who dominated the tournament since the beginning, or Gujarat, on the other hand, who waited for maiden Ranji Trophy glory for 83 long years.

Gujarat has gifted some of the iconic cricketing legends over the years, but their greatest triumph came through patience and perseverance. After years of relentless effort and near heartbreaks, the state finally lifted the coveted 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, turning dreams into historic glory.

In the final clash, captain Parthiv Patel’s heroics paved the way for their dream victory. Let’s relive the unforgettable day when dreams turned into historic glory for the team.

Decades of almosts and close calls define Gujarat’s grit

In our lives, we all have taken inspiration from the spider’s story, but Gujarat’s story of years of hustle, of their maiden Ranji Trophy glory. Whether as students or in everyday life, we’ve all faced failure at some point. Some give up, but others keep pushing relentlessly until they achieve their goals. In the Ranji Trophy world, Gujarat has set an example that consecutive setbacks are blessings in disguise to achieve the goal.

As the prestigious tournament marked their first step into the cricket arena in 1934-35, Gujarat made their first way in the Ranji Trophy final in the 1950 season. Facing Holkar in the final match, they ended up being the runners-up, marking the first heartbreak.

After that season, Gujarat faced continuous setbacks as they struggled to break the knockout jinx. Season after season, they shone in the group stages and reached the knockouts, yet playing in the final remained an elusive dream.

Gujarat smash the curse and create history in the 83rd season

As it says, god always pays for every hard work, and Gujarat believed it until the 2016-17 season of the Ranji Trophy. From the very start, they dominated with unstoppable form, cruising through the group stage, clearing the knockout hurdles, and met Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final.

Locking horns in the high-voltage clash, both showcased their best, and the match turned into a dramatic show. Batting first, Mumbai put on a total of 228 runs as the Gujarat bowlers showcased their domination. Coming to bat in the first innings, Gujarat put on a total of 328 runs, depending on Parthiv Patel’s 90 and Manprit Juneja’s 77-run knock.

As both were chasing the glory, the Mumbai batter brought a storm on the field. Despite Chintan Gaja’s brilliant six-wicket haul, Mumbai piled up a massive 411 runs, powered by Abhishek Nayar’s 91 and the spectacular batting performance of Shreyas Iyer and Aditya Tare.

Coming to bat in the last innings, Gujarat was just 312 runs away from their maiden Ranji Trophy glory, but early setbacks hit them hard. Standing at that crucial point, skipper Parthiv Patel led the way as his 116-run partnership with Manprit Juneja turned the tide.

Guiding the side towards glory, the Gujarat captain graced the stage with an outstanding knock. With a spectacular ton in the final, he played a remarkable knock of 143 runs in 196 balls with 24 boundaries. That knock outplayed Mumbai, and Gujarat lifted their maiden trophy.

With that five-wicket victory, Gujarat lived in their long-desired dream. Decades of waiting, countless heartbreaks, and endless dreams, Gujarat’s Ranji triumph proved that good things truly come to those who wait. In Ranji Trophy’s history, Gujarat’s win remained an inspirational chapter.