41-time Ranji champion Mumbai out: Ravindra Jadeja team Saurashtra defeated by Tamil Nadu

The most successful team in Ranji Trophy history, 41-time champions Mumbai could not make it to the knockout stage this season. The team needed a win against Maharashtra on the last day of the group stage. But, chasing the target of 253 runs on Friday, the team could score only 195 runs for 6 wickets. The match ended in a draw and Andhra Pradesh qualified from Elite Group B along with Saurashtra.
Actually, the last match of the group stage was played between Maharashtra and Mumbai. Whichever team wins the match or takes the first innings lead, qualifies for the quarter-finals. But in the first innings, both the teams got all out after scoring 384 runs. After a tie in the first innings, it was necessary for both teams to win the match. Maharashtra was all out for 252 in the second innings on the fourth and final day.
Chasing the target of 253 runs in 28 overs, Mumbai scored around 90 runs in 10 overs. But, with wickets falling at frequent intervals, Mumbai started playing the defensive game. Due to this the team could only manage 195 runs for 6 wickets in 28 overs. The match ended in a draw and the Andhra Pradesh team qualified.
In a match in the same group, Saurashtra, who had qualified for the quarter-finals, was defeated by Tamil Nadu by 59 runs. Saurashtra needed 266 runs to win on the final day, but the team was bundled out for 206 runs. Harvik Desai top-scored with 101 runs in Saurashtra's second innings. Ajit took 6 wickets in the second innings. He took 3 wickets in the first innings. He was adjudged player of the match.
Eight teams for the quarter-finals have been decided. The first quarter-final match will be played between Bengal and Jharkhand at Kolkata's Eden Garden ground, the second between Saurashtra and Punjab in Rajkot, the third between Karnataka and Uttarakhand in Bengaluru and the fourth quarter-final match between Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh in Indore.
Ranji knockout matches are of 5 days, so the teams will get an extra day of time to get the results. On the other hand, if the match ends in a draw against the quarter-finals, then the team that takes the lead in the first innings will win. The semi-finals will be played on February 8 and the final on February 16.