Mumbai Falcons ready to face Bandra Blasters in T20 Mumbai semifinal
Mumbai, June 9 (UNI) SoBo Mumbai Falcons warmed up for the knockout stage with a facile win against Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs in its last T20 Mumbai league stage tie at the Wankhede Stadium here.
The five-wicket win – set up by Ishan Mulchandani's second fifty of the season and his crucial partnership with captain Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who took over from Shreyas Iyer for Sunday
night's game – was SoBo Mumbai Falcons' fourth win in five league games. Eagle Thane
Strikers were the only other team to win four league games.
It means that the Falcons will take on NaMo Bandra Blasters in the second semifinal on Tuesday under lights at the Wankhede Stadium. And the Falcons' troupe – led by Shreyas and Raghuvanshi and ably guided by Team Principal Vikrant Yeligati – has all the bases covered heading into the business of the tournament.
As he showcased during his 99-run partnership with Raghuvanshi at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, Ishan Mulchandani was in sublime touch. With 147 runs, he is the Falcons' highest run-getter of the tournament. Similarly, Siddharth Raut continued his exploits with the new ball as
the seasoned pacer has justified his billing of the leader of the pace pack.
Add to that the fact that the allrounder duo of Vinayak Bhoir and Akash Parkar – who had a four-wicket haul against Aakash Tigers – are in top gear underlines that the Falcons are a well-oiled machine that's raring to go at full throttle against the Blasters. Both Bhoir – the left-arm spinner and left-handed batter – and Parkar, the big-hitter and a right-arm pacer, have had at least one notable contribution both with the bat and the ball.
While the seasoned duo has maintained the balance of the team, the Falcons have also unearthed the find of the tournament in Harsh Aghav. The young batter has the ability to dominate the bowlers with textbook shots. He will be hoping to withstand the big-match pressure at the Big W on Tuesday night.
The winner of the first semifinal between Eagle Thane Strikers and MSC Maratha Royals – to be played on Tuesday afternoon – will be keeping a close watch on the Falcons' semifinal, just like scores of the Falcons' fan army that will be cheering the squad at the top of their voice.
Brief Score:
Aakash Tigers MWS 136/9, 20 overs (Jay Bista 69; Akash Parkar 4/24, Yash Dicholkar 2/15) lost to SoBo Mumbai Falcons 141/5 in 18.5 overs (Ishan Mulchandani 52, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 41, Harsh Aghav 23 not out; Salman Khan 2/15) by 5 wickets.
UNI BM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Shreyas Iyer weighs in as Punjab Kings star emerges as captaincy contender, says 'I have been captaining since 22'
Shreyas Iyer. New Delhi: Shreyas Iyer's international cricket career, beginning in 2017, has been characterized by a blend of talent, composure, and strategic thinking, suggesting potential for long-term success. However, his progress has been hampered by recurring injuries and inconsistent selection, hindering his overall advancement. Shreyas Iyer's vulnerability to short-pitched bowling was a recognized weakness, but he has significantly improved this aspect of his game. His strong recent performances have led to speculation within the BCCI that he could be a future leader of India's white-ball teams, potentially alongside Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer's captaincy of the Sobo Mumbai Falcons in the T20 Mumbai League has led them to the semi-finals, showcasing his strategic skills. He expressed his enthusiasm for the captaincy role, highlighting the intellectual challenges it presents. Playing alongside experienced colleagues like Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, and familiar faces, fuels Iyer's competitive spirit. His ability to thrive under pressure and relish crucial moments underscores his leadership qualities. 'It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain. I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact to come out and lead, ' Iyer said 'I just try to get into my zone, and I try to do things which are there in front of me. I try to stay focused as much as possible, just stay in the present, embrace the situation, embrace the crowd because sometimes they get very electrifying and pass on the energy to you. So I keep telling myself that I want the crowd to cheer my name, and that brings that kind of motivation,' he said. 'There are familiar faces in the dressing room, I have played with a few of them in club cricket and also in my school and college teams. I am glad to be back and play with my teammates here.' Shreyas Iyer is poised for a resurgence in Indian cricket. His potential inclusion in India's leadership and his return to both T20I and Test formats suggest a renewed focus on his career. While challenges remain, Iyer's commitment to overcoming them is evident.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
'I love leading': Captain Shreyas Iyer and finals - The love story continues
Shreyas Iyer NEW DELHI: India batter Shreyas Iyer 's uncanny knack for taking his teams to finals continues to script a love story unlike any other in Indian cricket . On Tuesday, the in-form batter and captain steered SoBo Mumbai Falcons into the T20 Mumbai League 2025 final, adding yet another chapter to his golden run as skipper across formats and competitions. It marks Iyer's fourth final as captain in just over a year, starting with Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL triumph in May 2024. Since then, he's led Mumbai to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, Punjab Kings to an IPL final, and now SoBo Falcons to the summit clash of the city-based league. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "There's always pressure with captaincy, but I love leading," Iyer said on the sidelines of the T20 Mumbai League. "I've done it since I was 22, and I enjoy embracing the challenge and the responsibility that comes with it." Poll Which achievement of Shreyas Iyer as captain do you find most impressive? Leading KKR to IPL victory Winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Reaching IPL final with PBKS Taking SoBo Falcons to T20 final In the semifinal, SoBo Mumbai Falcons outclassed Bandra Blasters by five wickets. Chasing a modest 131, Ishan Mulchandani anchored the reply with an unbeaten 52, supported by a brisk 32 from Akash Parkar and 27 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Earlier, Parkar starred with the ball too, grabbing three wickets to restrict Bandra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Who's that IPL player? The final against Maratha Royals is scheduled for June 12 at Wankhede Stadium, with Iyer aiming for another title as captain. This remarkable run began with KKR's IPL title in May 2024 — their first in a decade — where Iyer scored 351 runs and led with poise. He followed it up by leading Mumbai to their second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win in December, amassing 345 runs at a blistering strike rate of 188.52. Bold prediction! Astrologer Greenstone Lobo picks winner of Australia vs South Africa WTC Final 2025 Then came a defining Champions Trophy campaign in March 2025, although not as skipper, where Iyer's consistent middle-order knocks helped India clinch their second ICC title in two years. Scores of 56, 79, and 48 were pivotal in India's title charge. In the recently concluded IPL 2025 season, he carried a resurgent Punjab Kings side to their first final in 11 years. Despite finishing runners-up to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Iyer ended as PBKS' top scorer with 604 runs at a staggering 175.07 strike rate. Iyer's captaincy reign has become synonymous with finals. Win or lose on June 12, the love story between Shreyas Iyer and the big stage is far from over — it's only getting deeper.
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Shreyas Iyer's Big Captaincy Revelation Amid India Leadership Reports: "Maturity, Responsiblity..."
Having guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title last year and led Punjab Kings to the IPL final this year, star India cricketer Shreyas Iyer says he "loves" leadership role as it helps to bring out the best in him. Iyer was pivotal in guiding PBKS to the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru this year, scoring 604 runs, including six half-centuries. But, as luck would have it, he missed out on a Test spot for the five-Test away series against England beginning later this month. He also led Delhi Capitals in the past. "It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain," Iyer told the T20 Mumbai League after leading Sobo Mumbai Falcons to the semifinal here on Sunday. "I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact to come out and lead," added Iyer. Iyer, 30, is among the top Indian stars, alongside Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, featuring in the T20 Mumbai League, a domestic franchise-based tournament. The middle-order batter added that he gets motivation to take on the challenge and perform at his best in high-pressure situations. "I just try to get into my zone and I try to do things which are there in front of me. I try to stay focused as much as possible, just stay in the present, embrace the situation, embrace the crowd because sometimes they get very electrifying and pass on the energy to you. So I keep telling myself that I want the crowd to cheer my name, and that brings that kind of motivation," he said. The Mumbai cricketer said that playing alongside familiar faces, who have been a part of his cricketing journey from his childhood days, in the tournament makes him feel happy. "There are familiar faces in the dressing room, I have played with a few of them in club cricket and also in my school and college teams. I am glad to be back and play with my teammates here." He added that the T20 Mumbai League was a great platform to nurture young cricketers and prepare them for future challenges. "The Mumbai Cricket Association has put in great efforts to bring this league and identify talents who have been consistently performing in the grassroots of Mumbai. This gives them a great platform to come and express themselves and also to thrive beyond club cricket," he said. Sobo Mumbai Falcons will take on Namo Bandra Blasters in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday.
