Fireworks lit up the Jaipuria Vidyalaya ground in Jaipur on December 31, 2025, as Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan delivered a batting masterclass, hammering a scintillating 157 off just 75 balls in a high-octane Vijay Hazare Trophy Group C clash against Goa. His brutal display, featuring a staggering 14 sixes and 9 fours, not only electrified the crowd but also powered Mumbai to a mammoth total of 444 for eight wickets—their second-highest in List A history.
Sarfaraz’s innings was nothing short of spectacular. He brought up his third List A century with a straight six, removing his helmet and celebrating animatedly as teammates and fans roared their approval. According to match reports, he reached the three-figure mark in just 56 balls, an astonishing feat that left the Goa bowlers searching for answers. Ten of his sixes came off the spin duo of Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal, with Sarfaraz dispatching four over the ropes off Lalit and six off Misal. It was a relentless assault—"Sarfaraz faced 46 deliveries from left-arm spinner Misal and off-spinner Lalit Yadav to score 104 runs against the duo," noted one source.
Goa, having won the toss, opted to bowl first and got an early breakthrough by removing opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi. But any hopes of capitalizing on that momentum quickly faded. Yashasvi Jaiswal, returning to action after a bout of acute gastroenteritis, joined Musheer Khan to steady the ship with a 70-run partnership for the second wicket. Jaiswal looked set for a half-century but fell for 46, caught in the covers by Snehal Kauthankar off Darshan Misal, just four runs shy of his milestone. Musheer, meanwhile, anchored the innings with a composed 60 off 66 balls.
The real carnage, however, began when Sarfaraz strode to the crease. He and Musheer added 93 for the third wicket, and as the surface eased out, Sarfaraz took full advantage. Fielding lapses by Goa only fueled his confidence, and Mumbai’s captain Shardul Thakur joined the party by smashing 26 runs in a single over from Shubham Tari. The onslaught continued as the Mumbai middle and lower order piled on the runs—wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore blasted 53 off just 28 balls, Shams Mulani chipped in with 22 off 15, and Tanush Kotian finished unbeaten on 23 off 12. Thakur himself contributed a rapid 27 off eight balls.
By the time Sarfaraz was dismissed in the 42nd over—still on course for a possible double century—Mumbai had already crossed the 300-run mark. The final eight overs saw the team collect more than 100 runs, with boundaries flowing freely. Mumbai’s innings eventually closed at 444 for eight, featuring a collective tally of 35 fours and 25 sixes. Arjun Tendulkar, son of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, bore the brunt of the Mumbai onslaught, conceding 78 runs in his eight overs.
Chasing 445 for an improbable win, Goa’s reply never really threatened the Mumbai juggernaut. Openers Arjun Tendulkar and Kashyap Bakle failed to convert their starts, and the top order crumbled under pressure. Yet, the middle overs offered a glimmer of hope as Abhinav Tejrana played a valiant hand, compiling a 70-ball century. He found a reliable partner in Lalit Yadav, who contributed 64, and together they stitched a 117-run stand for the fifth wicket.
But the mountain was simply too steep. Mumbai’s bowling, marshaled by captain Shardul Thakur, kept chipping away. Thakur led from the front, claiming three wickets for just 20 runs in his six-over spell. Yashasvi Jaiswal, turning his arm over for three overs, conceded 52 runs but managed to pick up two wickets with his leg-breaks. Despite a late flourish from Goa’s captain Deepraj Gaonkar—who hammered a rapid 70 off just 28 balls—the chase fizzled out. Goa finished at 357 for nine, falling 87 runs short of the daunting target.
"It was an herculean task for Goa after openers Arjun Tendulkar and Kashyap Bakle failed to convert starts. However, Abhinav Tejrana put up a fight with a gritty 70-ball-100 and added 117 runs for the fifth wicket with Lalit, before Jaiswal sent the former packing. Captain Deepraj Gaonkar delayed the inevitable with a 28-ball-70, but Goa eventually ran out of steam," reported one match summary.
This victory marked Mumbai’s fourth consecutive win in the group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, pushing them ever closer to the knockout rounds. With three matches left in the group stage, just one more win is expected to secure their passage to the quarter-finals—a testament to the team’s consistency and depth. Sarfaraz’s form has been a revelation, not just in this tournament but also in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier in the season. His ability to dominate attacks, especially spinners, has given Mumbai a massive edge.
The numbers tell their own story. Mumbai’s 444 is their second-highest List A total, and the team’s aggressive approach has seen them rack up huge scores game after game. The balance between youth and experience is evident—Jaiswal’s return from illness, Musheer’s reliability, and the lower-order’s firepower have all contributed to the side’s unbeaten run. And with bowlers like Thakur leading the attack, Mumbai have shown they can defend even the most daunting targets.
Goa, for their part, will rue their missed chances in the field and their inability to contain Sarfaraz and company. While the efforts of Tejrana, Lalit, and Gaonkar offered some resistance, the gulf in class was apparent. Fielding lapses and expensive spells from the likes of Arjun Tendulkar and the spinners proved costly, and the team will need to regroup quickly to keep their own knockout hopes alive.
As the Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage heads into its final stretch, Mumbai stand as one of the tournament’s form teams. With Sarfaraz Khan in imperious touch and the squad firing on all cylinders, fans and rivals alike will be watching closely to see if this juggernaut can be stopped. For now, Mumbai’s fourth win in a row has them firmly in the driver’s seat, brimming with confidence and eyeing a deep run into the knockouts.
