Behind Mumbai's 42nd Ranji title: Songs, dance and 15-day Alur camp

MUMBAI'S 42ND TITLE was not made in a day. It was the result of meticulous planning, strategising and hard work over the last ten months.

- DEVENDRA PANDEY

From 46 review meetings and a pre-season residential camp in Alur near Bengaluru to dance and songs competitions and storytelling exercises before the final against Vidarbha, the journey was mixed with fun, sweat and brainstorming, with heroes sprouting in every step.

The seasoned Ajinkya Rahane was the face of their campaign. But there were others too.

Like coach Omkar Salvi. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) wanted to hire his brother Avishkar, the former fast bowler, as coach, but in the end it turned out to be his brother, a former Railways player and the assistant bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.

He had never played a first-class game featured in a solitary List A game for Railways but the decision seems inspired in hindsight.

Salvi likens the script to a Bollywood movie full of twists and turns and heroes leaping from everywhere to guide them to victory.

Throughout the campaign, they had several heroes, from the farewelling stalwart Dhawal Kulkarni and batting mainstay Bhupen Lalwani to player of the series Tanush Kotian and highest wicket-taker Mohit Avasthi.