It was a memorable week of action for the MUM-boys as they entertained the Paltan with their heroics on the field. From Polly Tatya smashing four sixes in an over in the CPL 2024 to Anshul Kamboj’s thrilling eight-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy, it was box-office stuff from our boys in Blue and Gold. Let’s zoom in….

The evergreen Pollard show

We have seen Kieron Pollard win numerous games single-handedly for MI and he continues to do it now also, proving that age is just a number. After his exploits in the MLC and The Hundred, Polly is back to what he does best, smash sixes and win matches for his team.

He bludgeoned a 19-ball 50 for Trinbago Knight Riders, which also included four towering sixes in the penultimate over, to see his side through against St Lucia Kings by four wickets. Vintage Pollard!

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I-shaandaar comeback

A typical Ishan knock (111 off 126 balls) was on display at Anantapur as he powered India C to a strong total against India B in the Duleep Trophy. Having missed the first-round match with an injury, our pocket dynamo cut loose with 14 fours and three sixes as he went about demolishing the bowling attack.

White ball or red ball, it doesn't matter to our boy who is in red-hot form after his century for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu tournament last month.

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Shams ‘Gritty’ Mulani

On a day when Ishan was sending the attack to the cleaners, Shams Mulani was creating waves in his own way on a different ground in Anantapur. Shams displayed a typical Mumbaikar’s grittiness to hold together India A’s innings against India D on day one of the Duleep Trophy.

Our boy grinded India D’s bowlers with a patient knock (89 off 187 balls) to help the side to a respectable total, mixing caution and aggression perfectly with eight fours and three sixes in his batting masterclass.

His excellent performance with the ball in the final innings (3/117) won him the Player of the Match for his all-round show.

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Starting a new season, the Tilak way

Tilak Varma announced his arrival in this year’s Duleep Trophy in style. Having missed out in the first innings against India D, the southpaw made amends quickly with a patient, stroke-filled, unbeaten century in the second. His knock (111* off 193 balls) was of the highest quality and put India D out of the contest.

His innings, which consisted of nine fours, showed everyone that Tilak is not only about slam-bang cricket. He adapted to the requirements of the game and played the waiting game to perfection in a situation that required him to take responsibility.

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Anshul scripting the eighth wonder

What a way to register your first five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket! Anshul Kamboj, playing only his second Duleep Trophy game, bowled like an experienced campaigner to record the fifth-best spell ever in the history of the tournament (8/69). A cameo of 38 in the first innings to go by his bowling exploits won him the Player of the Match.

With India B sitting comfortably at 129/0, our boy bowled his heart out to reduce the opponents to 194/5 with five straight wickets and brought India C back into the match. A look at some of his victims, in-form batters N Jagadeesan and Musheer Khan, Indian internationals Sarfaraz Khan and Rinku Singh, and IPL sensation Nitish Kumar Reddy would invoke goosebumps among the Paltan.

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The much-awaited home season begins

Meanwhile, Hitman and Boom Boom have landed in Chennai and started preparations for the upcoming India vs Bangladesh Test series set to start on September 19. The Paltan can’t wait to see their favourite duo back in action for Team India, this time in whites. Let the red-ball action unfold…