The Mumbai team, led by Siddhesh Lad and coached by Omkar Salvi, have the luxury of having experienced personnel in its dressing room. Sandeep Patil, a former Mumbai captain and a former India coach, is the team’s mentor, and his presence in the dressing room seems to have had a steadying influence on the team in its season opener against Chandigarh on Sunday.
After losing their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early and struggling to force the pace on a tricky, greenish Wankhede pitch, Mumbai recovered well to finish Day 1 of their Ranji opener at 249 for five, with skipper Siddhesh Lad unbeaten on 80. Patil was in the Mumbai dressing room on Sunday (October 11), and coach Omkar Salvi said the presence of the 1983 World Cup winner had been helpful.
“I think with the experience that Sandeep Patil sir has, and the way you know his personality, he is always going to be helpful for the team. Always, definitely, the senior players are there, but you know, his voice, his experience, his knowledge of the game, and his small, small tips are definitely going to help the players,” Salvi said after the first day’s play.
Mumbai have a wealth of experience at their disposal. Besides Patil, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, a World Cup winner like Patil who played 116 Tests, is the team’s advisor. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is keen for the 42-time champions, who last won the title in the 2023–24 season, to re-establish their hegemony in the premier domestic championship.
“Legends Dilip Vengsarkar and Sandeep Patil continue to enrich Mumbai teams (men and women) across all age groups with their vast experience. Equally invaluable has been the contribution of Diana Edulji and Raju Kulkarni through the CIC over the years in strengthening Mumbai cricket,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said. “Their love for Mumbai cricket and commitment to giving back to the game that shaped them is truly inspiring.”
Coach Salvi was happy with the day’s proceedings, although Mumbai did not make a convincing start after being put in by Chandigarh. He was also full of praise for skipper Lad, who completed 5,000 runs for Mumbai on Sunday. “The fight was tough. We lost a few wickets, but the scoreboard doesn’t look too bad.”
The coach continued, “Over the last two seasons, Siddhesh has grown as a player, and you can also see his leadership qualities coming to the fore. The way he remains calm and composed at the crease brings a sense of calmness to the dressing room as well. I have seen his failures and I have seen his highs. Overall, he is now a very settled player. He is very passionate about playing red ball cricket.”
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