‘Greatest day in India’s domestic cricket history’: Vengsarkar revisits the 1991 Ranji Trophy final
Thirty-five years ago, the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Haryana delivered an unforgettable thriller. Haryana, led by Kapil Dev, clinched their maiden title by a mere two runs in a dramatic finish at the Wankhede Stadium. The match featured stellar performances and a nail-biting conclusion, cementing its place as a classic in Indian domestic cricket history.
Bombay: May 7, 2026, marked exactly 35 years since one of the greatest Ranji Trophy finals ever played. On this day in the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy season, Haryana, led by India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, stunned heavyweight Bombay (Mumbai) by just two runs at the Wankhede Stadium to lift their maiden Ranji Trophy title. For those raised on IPL thrillers, this was a domestic classic that went right down to the final ball on Day 5.
The match, telecast live on Doordarshan Sports, is still remembered for its dramatic twists and high-quality cricket, though the broadcaster later deleted the footage. Played from May 3-7, 1991, the final saw Haryana post 522 in the first innings, powered by Deepak Sharma’s 199 and Chetan Sharma’s remarkable 98 from No. 9.
Bombay replied with 410, despite Sanjay Patil top-scoring with 85 and Lalchand Rajput making 74. Kapil Dev took three for 54, while Yogendra Bhandari claimed five wickets. Bombay then bowled Haryana out for 242, leaving themselves 355 to win in 67 overs.
However, they slipped to 35 for three at lunch on the final day, with Rajput, Shishir Hattangadi and Sanjay Manjrekar dismissed by the Kapil-Chetan combination. What followed remains one of the most memorable partnerships in Indian domestic cricket. Dilip Vengsarkar and a teenage Sachin Tendulkar added 134 runs for the fourth wicket to drag Bombay back into the contest.
Continue to the original source for the full article.