Lad finds his way back home and gets back on track

After scoring his ninth hundred and achieving a personal milestone in his Mumbai return, Lad expressed his disbelief that he would ever be able to play first-class cricket again. Following Mumbai's declaration at 602/4 in their first innings against Odisha at the Mumbai Cricket Association's BKC ground on Thursday, Lad remained unbeaten on 169 (337 balls, including 17 boundaries) - marking his highest first-class score to date.

At 32, Lad, a gritty middle-order batter may not be aiming for the sky. But four years back, he was; having climbed up the ladder and played for India A against England and Sri Lanka. A poor season later, Lad wasn’t a Mumbai playing eleven regular any longer. In quest of getting more game time, he quit Mumbai for Goa.

Like Sarfaraz Khan, more recently, and many before him, Lad missed the professionalism of the Mumbai cricket set up and yearned to return. But it took him some time to convince himself that he could do it all over again and win the right to play for defending Ranji champions Mumbai again.

“I was 30. I didn’t have the motivation. I had also underwent a sports hernia operation which kept me out of the game. A lot of our star players too were in the side as they were out of the Indian team,” he said. “But the team management told me if I could work on my skills and fitness I could make it back.”

A customised fitness program from head coach Omkar Salvi, a rigorous pre-season camp in Alur and motivation from father Dinesh, Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, eventually helped Lad, a former Mumbai captain, make it back. Lad only has one IPL appearance. But his quest to make it back to the first-class cricket grind is a fitting addition to the collection of endearing stories about those who refuse to give up.

“I am just trying to enjoy my cricket which is how I approached things when I started out. I will try and help Mumbai win another Ranji title. That’s when I will be satisfied. I can tell my kids, I won a few Ranji titles for Mumbai,” he said.

Shreyas completes double hundred

Earlier, Shreyas Iyer raced to his highest first-class score 233 (228b, 24x6, 9x6) plundering boundaries against a weak Odisha bowling attack who had tried as many 8 bowlers across 123.5 overs.

After declaring, Mumbai bowlers led by Shams Mulani 17-3-52-2 and off-spinner Himanshu Singh 11-3-22-2 pushed Odisha further back in the match. The visitors were 146/5, still 456 first innings runs behind. Mumbai, fourth on the points table, are eyeing an innings victory to secure the bonus point.