Ranji Trophy 2024: Shreyas Iyer smashes whirlwind double century for Mumbai, send BIG message to Gautam Gambhir and selectors

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer sent a big message to head coach Gautam Gambhir and national selectors on Thursday, smashing his career-best first-class score of 233 in the Ranji Trophy 2024 match against Odisha in Mumbai. It was Iyer’s third first-class double century and the knock came of only 228 balls with 9 sixes and 24 fours.

The Mumbai batter completed his double century in 201 balls and was involved in a record partnership with Siddesh Lad for the fourth wicket. Iyer and Lad’s partnership of 354 runs is Mumbai’s highest fourth-wicket stand in Ranji Trophy history. The previous record was held by current India captain Rohit Sharma and Sushant Marathe, who had put on 342 vs Gujarat at Brabourne in 2009-10.

Iyer has scored back-to-back tons in Ranji Trophy 2024 season, after scoring 142 against Maharashtra in the last match. The ton against Maharashtra was Iyer’s first first-class century in three years – the last one coming on his Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur in 2021.

 

SHREYAS IYER SMASHED 233 RUNS FROM JUST 228 BALLS IN RANJI TROPHY

– Iyer has made a huge statement ahead of 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/8vJwrtQcvu

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 7, 2024

Iyer’s hundred on Day 1 came in just 101 balls and by stumps he was batting on 152 with 18 fours and four sixes. He reached his double century in only 201 balls on the back of 22 fours and eight sixes. It was his first FC double century since an unbeaten 202 against a visiting Australia team ahead of the 2017-18 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Mumbai.

The ex-captain of KKR is believed to be a top target for Delhi Capitals at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction later this month. It is believed that GMR group, which is running DC for the next couple of seasons, are keen on bringing back their former skipper to the side as Iyer had led them to the final in the IPL 2020 season.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore had recently revealed that Iyer was their No. 1 on the retention list but the Mumbai batter couldn’t come to an agreement with Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise. “Sometimes along the line, that agreement doesn’t happen because of various factors; money or somebody wants to test their value or whatever it is. That influences a decision as well, eventually, but he (Shreyas Iyer) was No.1 on our list,” Mysore was quoted as saying by Revsportz website.