Mumbai vs Vidarbha Ranji trophy semifinal: Jaiswal set to miss, but Mumbai firm favourites against Vidarbha

Mumbai faces Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy semifinal, with Jaiswal's injury a concern, but Mumbai remains strong.

It's unlikely that Mumbai will have an injured Yashasvi Jaiswal in their ranks, but the resilient defending champions are firm favourites against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy semifinal, beginning in Nagpur on Monday (February 17, 2025).

PTI understands that Jaiswal might travel to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further assessment of his unspecified injury soon, as he has been named as a "non-travelling reserve" in India's Champions Trophy squad.

But the possible absence of Jaiswal in no way reduces the firepower of Mumbai in a match that is the repeat of last year's final.

Mumbai have a host of stars in their line-up such as skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube and Shardul Thakur who can alter the course of the game on their own.

But more than the presence of some acclaimed and accomplished players, their determination makes the 42-time champions a team cut from different cloth.

On several occasions this season, Mumbai's top-order malfunctioned but their lower-order batters like Thakur and Tanush Kotian have bailed them out with gritty efforts.

Even in the quarterfinal against Haryana, they were tottering at 113 for seven before Shams Mulani and Kotian milked 183 runs for the eighth wicket to rescue Mumbai.