Haryana robbed of home advantage as Ranji quarter-final vs Mumbai moved to Kolkata

In a sudden development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) changed the venue of the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 quarterfinal match. The BCCI shifted the quarterfinal match between Mumbai and Haryana from the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli to Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Mumbai, scheduled to arrive in Lahli on Wednesday morning, will now travel to Kolkata later in the day. The match, set to begin on February 8, will deprive Haryana of the home advantage. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Mumbai team, including Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, in the knockout match.

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy Quarterfinal Clash Moved to Kolkata at the Last Minute

According to a report from The Indian Express, the BCCI made a last-minute decision to move the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match between Mumbai and Haryana due to “unavoidable circumstances.”

BCCI game development manager Abey Kuruvila informed both the Haryana Cricket Association and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) of the change via email. The MCA received the communication late on Tuesday, stating that the Cricket Association of Bengal will handle all the arrangements.

“We were informed by mail that the Ranji Trophy game between Haryana and Mumbai, to be played in Lahli, has been shifted to Eden Gardens in Kolkata due to unavoidable circumstances. Cricket Association of Bengal will be hosting and taking care of all arrangements,” an MCA official said.

In the other Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, Jammu & Kashmir will face Kerala in Pune, Vidarbha will play Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat will take on Saurashtra.

The Jammu and Kashmir vs Kerala Quarterfinal Also Shifted From Srinagar to Pune

While no official reason has been provided for the venue change, it is believed that fog and inclement weather may have influenced the decision. Earlier, the match between Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala was moved from Srinagar to Pune for similar reasons, with weather conditions impacting both games.

“We have a good infrastructure to host the game of cricket, and I’m sure it will be a great playing experience for both teams under these conditions," Maharashtra Cricket Association president Rohit Pawar had said in a statement on Sunday.

Mumbai, featuring top India Test players like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur, was stunned by Jammu and Kashmir at home after the Ranji Trophy resumed last month.

However, the defending champions bounced back with a crushing innings victory over Meghalaya, securing a bonus point that helped them advance to the quarterfinals.

With Rohit, Jaiswal, and Iyer back on international duty, Mumbai's squad is bolstered by Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube for the quarterfinal match against Haryana, who qualified after a 284-run win over Bengal, followed by a draw against Karnataka. The match will begin on February 8.

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