Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur has asked everyone to back Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane and not criticise them during their poor form. However, both Shreyas and Rahane could only score 7 runs each in the first innings of the final of the Ranji Trophy against Vidarbha, as their rough patch with the bat continued. Shardul once again came to the rescue for Mumbai as he scored a 69-ball 75 and they posted 224.

Speaking to the media, he said, “Ajinkya is not scoring runs throughout the season. He is not in the greatest of the forms. We cannot blame him as it is just a phase for him where he is not getting runs, It’s just a rough patch for them. That’s what I would say (about) Shreyas (and) Ajinkya. These guys have been absolute match-winners for Mumbai and India.’ Right now, it’s not their time; it’s time to support them rather than criticising them because it’s easy to criticise,” said Shardul to PTI.

Shardul Thakur also highlighted the commitment of both men on the field and said they are role models in the dressing room.

“Ajinkya has not scored runs but his attitude on the fielding is top notch. A lot of youngsters coming from U-23 and U-19 cricket in Mumbai don’t have the attitude that he has. You see him in the slips, even if he is fielded for 80 overs, he will sprint (to) save (those) four runs. Shreyas moves around the field like a tiger. He absolutely gives everything that he has on the field. Both of them are role models when they are in the dressing room,” Thakur added.

However, Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t had the best of form in the domestic circuit after losing his place in the Indian Test team. During the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 campaign, he scored only 141 runs from eight matches at an average of 12.81 with a solitary fifty. Shreyas Iyer has just scored 58 runs from three matches in the Ranji Trophy this season which came at an average of 19.33. Moreover, Shreyas was recently in the news as he lost his BCCI central contract as well.