Mumbai: May 7, 2026, marks the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest historical events. ranji trophy Finals ever played. On this day in the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy season, Haryana, led by the 1983 World Cup winning Indian captain Kapil Devdefeated heavyweights Mumbai by just two runs at the Wankhede Stadium to win the Ranji Trophy for the first time. For those who grew up watching IPL thrillers, it was a domestic classic that went right down to the last ball on day five. The match, which was broadcast live by Doordarshan Sports, is still remembered for its dramatic turns and quality cricket, although the broadcaster later deleted the footage. The final was played from May 3 to 7, 1991, with Haryana scoring 507 in the first innings, with Deepak Sharma scoring 199 and Chetan Sharma scoring 98 in the No. 1 match. 9. Mumbai replied with 410 runs, although Sanjay Patil was the top scorer with 85 runs and Lachhand Rajput with 74 runs. Kapil Dev scored 54 runs and took three wickets while Yogendra Bhandari took 5 wickets. Mumbai then bowled out Haryana for 242 runs, winning by 355 runs in 67 overs. However, by lunch on the final day, their trio’s score slipped to 35, with Rajput, Shishil Khatangadi and Sanjay Manjrekar being eliminated by the Kapil-Chetan combination. What followed remains one of the most memorable partnerships in Indian domestic cricket. Dilip Vengesarkar with a teenager Sachin Tendulkar Added 134 runs for the fourth wicket to drag Mumbai back into the game. Vengsarkar remained unbeaten on 139 balls while Tendulkar scored an outstanding 96 off just 75 balls. “Had we not taken as many as seven catches, Haryana would not have scored 522 in the first innings. If Tendulkar had lasted for five more overs, we would have advanced. I don’t remember seeing him batting better in domestic cricket,” Venger Sarkar told TOI on Thursday. Despite the heartbreak, Vengesarkar still considers it a landmark day for Indian domestic cricket. “It was the greatest day in the history of domestic cricket in India. After that, I don’t remember any crowds on the last day of the Ranji Trophy final at Wankhede. In fact, you can hardly see a Ranji Trophy crowd now,” he said. In 2021, at the naming ceremony of the Vengsarkar stand in the Wankhede, Tendulkar emotionally recalled the impact that defeat had on him. “We lost the final by two runs on the last day. Abhay Kuruvilla was eliminated. Vengesaka scored an unbeaten century [139]. I will never forget Vengersaka’s reaction when he walked to the dressing room after the game. I saw tears in his eyes. In the locker room, he sat with a towel covering his head for some time. That’s when I realized what commitment and passion is, what is the kadus spirit of Mumbai cricket. He has played more than 100 Tests and he is such a good cricketer but he still plays for Mumbai and he had tears in his eyes after Mumbai lost. I just think this site [Dilip Vengsarkar Stand] What we see now being named after him is a tribute to those tears,” Tendulkar said. Kapil Dev later described it as “the greatest match of my life”. Speaking to TOI, former Mumbai all-rounder and current Mumbai senior team chief selector Sanjay Patil also recalled the extraordinary dedication shown by the players of that era. “It’s been exactly 35 years since the greatest match of my life and it feels great. I was on the field for five days. I should never have played that match in the first place because I fractured my left (bowling) finger after being hit by Manoj Prabhakar’s beam in the quarter-final against Delhi and our MCA doctor Arun Samshir told me to rest for seven weeks. However, my captain Sanjay Manjrekar asked me to play in the semi-final against Hyderabad, so I forgot about my injury.“ “A few days after the semi-finals, it was the final. Forgetting that I had a broken finger, I scored 50.3 runs in the first innings. Then, at 4.15 pm, Khatangadi was out and suddenly, just when I was thinking of taking a break, I was asked to serve as night watchman. Somehow, I was ready and Sameer Dighe, our 12th man, helped me put on the pads. In my haste, I even forgot to wear protective clothing, and I had to face Kapil! However, I am proud to say that even as a No. 10 batsmen, in a star-studded batting line-up, with Tendulkar at fifth and Vinod Kambli at sixth, I ended up with the highest score of 85! In the second game, I threw 34 balls and scored 3 balls for 65. “ This was supposed to be Vengsarkar’s last season in Mumbai. The former India captain revealed that he initially planned to retire after the 1991-92 tour of Australia but was convinced by former India opener Sudhir Naik to continue representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy knockout tournament. Vengsarkar scored a memorable 284 in the quarter-final against Madhya Pradesh at the Wankhede Stadium before eventually playing his final game for Mumbai in the semi-final loss to Delhi – another example of the commitment and loyalty shown by players of that era to Mumbai cricket.
