Sarfaraz Khan once again made a strong statement with the bat, continuing his relentless push for a return to the Indian team by scoring a commanding century for Mumbai on Day One of their Ranji Trophy clash against Hyderabad. Mumbai ended the opening day firmly on top, thanks to crucial hundreds from Sarfaraz and Siddhesh Lad, after opting to bat first on a testing surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Hyderabad enjoyed early success as the green-tinged pitch offered movement and bounce. Mumbai openers Akhil Herwadkar and Akash Anand showed restraint but were dismissed before lunch by Rohit Rayudu and Mohammed Siraj, leaving the visitors in early trouble.
At one stage, Mumbai were crawling at just 50 runs in 21 overs, with the hosts sensing an opportunity to seize control. Sarfaraz’s arrival at the crease shifted the momentum decisively.
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Fresh from a productive white-ball season, the right-hander looked fluent from the outset, counterattacking the bowlers with authority. He brought up his half-century in 65 balls, punctuated by a trademark six straight down the ground, and soon converted it into his 17th First-Class hundred. True to his nature, Sarfaraz celebrated in a subdued manner, letting his bat do the talking once again.
🚨 SARFARAZ KHAN SMASHED DOUBLE HUNDRED FROM JUST 206 BALLS IN RANJI TROPHY 🚨
– A statement for Test Cricket in 2026 🇮🇳🔥 pic.twitter.com/jXRaMcobYx
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 23, 2026
At the other end, Siddhesh Lad played the ideal supporting role. Given a lifeline when he was dropped by Nitish Reddy at slip off Siraj, Lad made Hyderabad pay in full. He registered his fourth century of the season, reaching his fifty from 94 balls and finishing with six boundaries and two sixes. The partnership between Lad and Sarfaraz proved to be the turning point of the day.
As the stand grew, Hyderabad’s discipline in the field waned, with misfields and missed chances allowing Mumbai to keep the scoreboard moving. The duo combined patience with controlled aggression, steadily increasing the run rate and erasing the advantage the hosts had built early on.
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Siraj’s decision to bowl first and the inclusion of debutant N. Nitin Sai Yadav brought fleeting moments of success, including Musheer Khan’s dismissal, but the middle order’s resilience ensured Mumbai stayed on course. With the ball losing its shine, Hyderabad struggled to apply pressure.
Sarfaraz’s latest hundred adds to an outstanding domestic season. He has now amassed 329 runs in seven First-Class matches at an average close to 66, following an explosive Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign where he scored 303 runs, including a record-breaking 157.
