Pollution Hits Mumbai vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy Day 1 Sees Big Wickets and Key Scores

The first day of the final round of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy group stages witnessed intense cricketing action across India, with several teams fighting for crucial quarter-final spots . At the MCA-BKC Ground , Mumbai’s clash against Delhi was briefly disrupted by air pollution , forcing a few players to wear face masks . India and Mumbai batters Sarfaraz Khan , his younger brother Musheer Khan , and spinner Himanshu Singh donned masks during the third session as dust from nearby construction work aggravated the city’s already high pollution. With the air quality index (AQI) hovering around 160 , considered “unhealthy,” Mumbai pacer Mohit Avasthi said the masks were worn purely for breathing comfort . Despite the disruption, Mumbai dominated Delhi on Day 1 and gained a clear upper hand.

Elsewhere, Hyderabad captain Mohammed Siraj starred with the ball, claiming 4 wickets to bowl out Chhattisgarh for 283 , while Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey picked up 6 wickets as Uttar Pradesh were dismissed for 237 , despite a valiant 96 by Dhruv Jurel . Karnataka struggled against Punjab , leaving the hosts at 303/9 at stumps, while Saurashtra bowled out Chandigarh for 136 , with Jaydev Unadkat taking four wickets and his team ending the day at 167/1 . Other notable scores included Nagaland 322/6 vs Andhra , Baroda 247/5 vs Tamil Nadu , Uttarakhand 279/3 vs Assam , and Maharashtra 52/2 , trailing Madhya Pradesh’s 187 .

A minute’s silence was observed across multiple matches to honor the late former BCCI President Inderjit Singh Bindra and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar . With the Ranji Trophy moving into the next phase, the remaining matches promise high-stakes cricket as teams jostle for a place in the knockout stage .