Sat Jan 25 07:10:26 UTC 2025: ## Ranji Trophy Day 3: Shardul Thakur’s Century Steals the Show as Several Star Players Struggle

**[City, State] –** Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy’s sixth round saw a mix of thrilling comebacks and disappointing performances from some of India’s biggest cricket stars. While several high-profile players underwhelmed, unsung heroes emerged, captivating fans across multiple matches.

The biggest talking point came from Mumbai’s clash against Jammu and Kashmir. After a shaky start that saw Rohit Sharma (28) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (4 & 26) fail to capitalize on promising openings, Shardul Thakur stepped up with a magnificent unbeaten century (113*), rescuing Mumbai from the brink. His 173-run partnership with Tanush Kotian (58*) secured a crucial 188-run lead for Mumbai heading into day four.

In contrast, Ravindra Jadeja dominated Delhi’s match against Saurashtra. Jadeja’s incredible 12-wicket haul (5/66 and 7/38) propelled Saurashtra to a 10-wicket victory within two days, leaving Rishabh Pant (1 & 17) struggling once again.

Other key highlights from the day include:

* **Karnataka’s commanding lead:** Smaran Ravichandran’s double century (203) helped Karnataka establish a massive 420-run lead over Punjab, leaving Shubman Gill (7*) with a challenging task on day three. Punjab’s early collapse to 24/2 further compounds their difficulties.
* **Maharashtra’s strong position:** Ruturaj Gaikwad’s quickfire 66 helped Maharashtra build a 275-run lead over Baroda.
* **Tamil Nadu’s dominance:** Narayan Jagadeeshan and Vijay Shankar’s half-centuries put Tamil Nadu firmly in control against Chandigarh, boasting a 272-run lead.
* **Close contests:** The matches between Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, and Bengal and Haryana remained tightly contested, promising exciting finishes. Uttar Pradesh also posted a huge score against Bihar.

Several matches remain closely fought, with the final day promising plenty of drama as teams battle for crucial points and qualification positions. The performance of several prominent players will continue to be a focal point as the Ranji Trophy progresses.

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