Watch: Abhimanyu Easwaran misses out on a double hundred as Shams Mulani strikes a massive blow

Abhimanyu Easwaran cut a lone figure when Mumbai’s left-arm spinner Shams Mulani was on fire, as he got rid of the two big fishes to bring his team back into the game against the Rest of India in the ongoing Irani Cup 2024 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

In reply to the Mumbai team’s first innings total of 537 runs, the Rest of India had a terrible start, losing their opener and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for just 9 runs off 27 balls.

But the opener, Abhimanyu Easwaran, stood tall, showing great composure and determination to put his team into a strong position against Mumbai in the ongoing Irani Cup 2024 game.

Mumbai's Shams Mulani claims two big wickets against Rest of India

After Sai Sudharsan (32), Devdutt Padikkal (16), and Ishan Kishan (38) failed to contribute immensely, Abhimanyu Easwaran and the young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel joined hands to attack the Mumbai bowlers. Jurel played a stunning knock of 93 runs off 121 balls before falling into the trap of Mulani.

Dhruv Jurel smoked 13 boundaries and one maximum during his brilliant knock for the Rest of India against Mumbai. He also stitched a crucial 165-run partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Mulani had a last laugh, breaking the dangerous partnership to give hope to the Mumbai side.

In the first ball of the 102 over, Mulani struck a crucial blow, dismissing Jurel for 97, just shy of a well-deserved century, and he was frustrated with himself for missing the golden opportunity.

The delivery came from Mulani, coming around the wicket and landing on the rough outside leg, and the Indian keeper could have avoided or even kicked it away, but instead, he attempted a sweep.

Unfortunately, the ball glanced off his glove and found its way to Hardik Tamore behind the stumps. Despite being slightly blinded by Jurel, Tamore took a sharp catch to end his wonderful innings and broke his key partnership with Easwaran. Well, the Mumbai spinner didn’t stop there.

Abhimanyu Easwaran falls to Shams Mulani's round-the-wicket mastery in Irani Cup 2024

Meanwhile, Mulani struck again as he got even bigger fish in the form of Easwaran, who was in red-hot form, departing after a brilliant knock of 191 off 292 balls.

Abhimanyu Easwaran's brilliant innings came to a frustrating end, and he was visibly upset with himself, slamming his bat into the ground right after Tanush Kotian took the catch.

Mulani, continuing his excellent round-the-wicket strategy, managed to force another mistake with a delivery outside the leg stump. Easwaran attempted an unnecessary sweep, and the ball took a top edge, ballooning towards the short fine leg, where Kotian took a sharp, forward catch.

Watch how Easwaran lost his wicket to Mulani here:

HUGE Wicket Alert 🚨

Shams Mulani gets the big wicket of Abhimanyu Easwaran (191), who misses out on his double ton by 9 runs!

A magnificent innings from Easwaran 👏

2 wickets in 2 overs for Mulani 🙌#IraniCup | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/Er0EHGOZKh pic.twitter.com/U4XQot1FeV

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 4, 2024

It was a stellar knock of 191, but the rest of India would have hoped for more from their in-form Easwaran, as his wicket could be the turning point that needed Mumbai most in the ongoing Irani Cup 2024.

Well, ROI is still trailing by 137 runs against Mumbai with four wickets in hand.