Shreyas Iyer’s 8-ball duck in Ranji Trophy derails hopes for Test comeback

The ongoing domestic season is turning into a nightmare for Shreyas Iyer, as the Indian batter’s slump with the bat continues in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25.

During Mumbai’s opening clash at the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 against Baroda on October 12, Shreyas Iyer registered his third duck of the season, raising concerns about his form with the bat.

Third duck of the season raises alarm bells for struggling Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer’s latest failure came when he was dismissed for a duck by Baroda's experienced left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt, facing just eight deliveries in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

This marked Iyer’s third duck in his last four first-class matches, and now a string of dismal performances has raised eyebrows among the cricket fraternity.

A 8 ball duck by Shreyas Iyer in Ranji trophy. pic.twitter.com/RaMHdr8WIQ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 12, 2024

Shreyas Iyer has already failed in two innings during the Duleep Trophy, where the right-handed batter recorded two ducks while representing India ‘D’ and now another duck in the first game of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 has cast a shadow over his domestic campaign.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Mumbai batter, as he was recently ignored for the three-match Test series against New Zealand, further intensifying the pressure on him.

Mumbai's batting lineup faltered against Baroda

Adding salt to the wound, Mumbai's batting lineup faltered as well, with Prithvi Shaw managing just seven runs before being bowled by Krunal Pandya and Ajinkya Rahane falling for 29 to Bhatt’s spin.

Later, Shams Mulani was clean bowled by Mahesh Pithiya for just 16. Siddhesh Lad (8) and Tanush Kotian (1) also flopped with the bat against Baroda. With these cheap dismissals, Mumbai found themselves struggling at 185/8, still trailing Baroda’s first inning total of 290 by 94 runs.

However, Iyer’s struggles have become a major talking point, especially since Mumbai entered this Ranji Trophy season with high expectations after clinching their first Irani Cup title.

But as their batting woes deepen, questions are raised about the form and focus of their key players, particularly Iyer, who desperately needs to rediscover his old touch with the bat.

Ishan Kishan fails to deliver for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan’s much-anticipated Ranji Trophy comeback also ended in disappointment, as the explosive wicketkeeper-batter managed just 21 runs.

Recently, Kishan was named the Jharkhand team captain, but he couldn't deliver a commanding performance to set an example for his team. Despite getting off to a good start, Kishan failed to capitalize, leaving fans fuming at him.

Jharkhand's innings were propped up by stellar contributions from Nazim Siddiqui (45), Aryaman Sen (64), Utkarsh Singh (55), and Kumar Suraj (55), helping the team to a solid foundation.

However, Kishan’s early dismissal added to the team's woes, as they were eventually bowled out for a modest total of 361, far below the 450 that seemed achievable on this surface.

At the close of play, Assam was holding steady at 71 for two, with Rishav Das and Denish Das anchoring their innings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.