Aman Khan has played enough cricket in the maidans of Mumbai, and even featured in white-ball teams for the domestic giant, before moving to Pondicherry last year.
And as Pondicherry struggled in its second innings of a Ranji Trophy Group D fixture after being forced to follow-on at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, Aman came up with a counter-attacking 44-ball-86 as his team lived to fight another day.
After being bundled out for 132, Pondicherry was reeling at 91 for five in the second essay when Aman walked out to bat. Dashing Mumbai’s hopes of wrapping things up inside three days, Aman dealt in sixes and fours.
Pondicherry’s Aman Khan.
| Photo Credit:
File photo: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
The 28-year-old not only brought up his half-century off just 29 balls, with a six at wide long-on off Tanush Kotian, but also forged a crucial 137-run partnership for the sixth wicket with fellow Mumbai lad Sidhaant Aadhhatrao (51 batting, 54b, 9×4). Pondicherry ended the day at 231 for six.
Mumbai’s bowlers, clearly, weren’t expecting resistance from Pondicherry’s lower middle-order after Shams Mulani claimed a couple of wickets early on. But knowing the conditions well, Aman targetted off-spinner Kotian, and scored 45 runs in his 15 deliveries.
As Kotian looked hassled, Aman hit him for three fours and four sixes, and also fetched 25 runs from Musheer Khan’s 10 deliveries, before being cleaned up by the latter.
Taking cue from Aman, Sidhaant, too, brought up his maiden fifty, featuring in his fifth First Class game. As the wicket eased out, the duo banked on their experience and tested Mumbai’s bowlers. However, trailing by 267 runs, Pondicherry still has a mountain to climb.
Puducherry’s Mohit Kale plays a shot during the Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Earlier, Mohit Kale scored a fifty, before falling to Mulani, as Pondicherry resumed the day at 43 for four. Mulani had a field day before the two Mumbai boys delayed the inevitable.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 630 for 5 (decl).
Pondicherry — 1st innings: Neyan Kangayan b Shardul 0, Ajay Rohera c Mhatre b Deshpande 14, Paras Ratnaparkhe lbw b Shardul 0, Anand Bais c Akash b Shardul 5, Mohit Kale c Akash b Mulani 53, Sagar Udeshi c & b Deshpande 20, Sidhaant Aadhhatrao lbw b Kotian 23, Aman Khan b Kotian 12, Jayant Yadav st Akash b Mulani 1, Sabhay Chadha c Avasthi b Kotian 1, Abin Mathew (not out) 0; Extras (lb-1, nb-1, b-1): 3; Total (in 47.2 overs): 132.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-8, 4-26, 5-69, 6-113, 7-129, 8-130, 9-132.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul 9-1-22-3, Avasthi 10-2-26-0, Deshpande 9-1-26-2, Mulani 10-3-23-2, Kotian 9.2-1-33-3.
Pondicherry — 2nd innings: Neyan Kangayan lbw b Kotian 42, Ajay Rohera c Sarfaraz b Deshpande 0, Paras Ratnaparkhe c Akash b Shardul 1, Mohit Kale c sub (Patil) b Mulani 35, Anand Bais c Deshpande b Mulani 8, Sidhaant Aadhhatrao (batting) 51, Aman Khan b Musheer 86, Jayant Yadav (batting) 3; Extras (lb-1, b-4): 5; Total (for six wkts. in 45 overs): 231.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-69, 4-85, 5-91, 6-228.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul 5-0-10-1, Deshpande 5-0-28-1, Avasthi 4-0-15-0, Mulani 17-3-67-2, Kotian 10-1-70-1, Musheer 4-0-36-1.
Published – November 18, 2025 06:17 pm IST
