Dhawal Kulkarni who loved a fairytale ending to his first-class profession was touched by Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane‘s gesture of handing him the ball within the Ranji Trophy remaining to complete off the sport as an alternative of Tushar Deshpande. Kulkarni breached Umesh Yadav‘s defence and shattered the leg stump to finish Mumbai’s eight-year wait of lifting the Ranji Trophy title.

With tears glistening in his eyes, Kulkarni walked off the sector, bringing an finish to his first-class profession after handing Mumbai their forty second Ranji Trophy title.

“It’s a cricketer’s dream to start and finish on a high. This is my 6th final, 5th time we’ve won and this will be dear for me. It was an excellent gesture, I didn’t expect (that Rahane would give him the ball to finish the game), but hats off for Tushar who gave the ball to me despite taking two wickets in an over. I’ve got experience as I’ve played with big stars, they’ve shared plenty of experience with me and I have passed the same to the younger lot,” Kulkarni stated after the sport.

Congratulations to @dhawal_kulkarni on a implausible profession. Your dedication and self-discipline have made you one in all @MumbaiCricAssoc‘s most essential gamers during the last 15 years. It was fairly becoming that you just took the ultimate wicket in opposition to Vidarbha at present, concluding your illustrious… pic.twitter.com/CNSLfIFJ7E

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 14, 2024

Overall, Kulkarni had a memorable remaining as he claimed three wickets within the first innings whereas giving freely simply 15 runs in his 11 overs spell. In the second innings, the 35-year-old leaked runs however ultimately bagged his first with Umesh dropping his wicket to the skilled pacer.

Earlier on the ultimate day, Mumbai have been left annoyed after Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar and Harsh Dubey fought valiantly to make sure that they did not lose a single wicket within the first session whereas chasing 537.

However, after Wadkar’s (102) dismissal, Vidarbha misplaced their remaining wickets in a span of 5 overs following a medical bowling spell from Mumbai.

Mumbai ended their eight-year wait to get their palms on the Ranji Trophy title with a 169-run win.