Story of Ratnagiri Jets’ MPL 2024 campaign so far
Ratnagiri Jets, the winners of the inaugural edition of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL), have looked like a champion side in the ongoing MPL 2024 season. Despite struggling to perform in the practice matches last month, they brought their A-game when it really mattered.
The Azim Kazi-led unit had a near-flawless MPL 2023, losing just one match all season. This time around, they started on similar terms, winning each of their first four encounters. However, a couple of losses have prevented them from securing an unassailable lead at the top of the MPL 2024 points table.
Deep dive into RJ’s remarkable journey in MPL 2024
The Ratnagiri Jets lit up the MCA Stadium in Pune during the MPL 2024 opener. A well-rounded batting effort by Azim Kazi and co. took them to 172-6. The bowlers came to the party during the second innings, earning a comfortable 54-run victory over the PBG Kolhapur Tuskers.
The reigning MPL champions produced another display of dominance, this time against the Raigad Royals. Chasing a paltry total of 103, the Jets achieved the target in just 13 overs, with Azim Kazi earning his second consecutive Player of the Match accolade.
The third match of MPL 2024 was a challenging encounter, but it ended with the Ratnagiri Jets achieving the most successful chase in MPL history. They chased down the 189-run target set by the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings with seven balls to spare, thanks to Divyang Hinganekar’s outstanding performance with both bat and ball.
4S Puneri Bappa was the fourth and final victim of the Ratnagiri Jet’s onslaught during the first half of MPL 2024. Satyajeet Bachhav, one of the standout bowlers of the season, picked up four wickets, which restricted the opposition to just 144/10. The Jets chased it down with four wickets in hand.
The fifth match of Ratnagiri Jets’ campaign ended up being a 5-over affair due to the rain gods playing spoilsport. Despite the Jets’ batter smashing 83/2, the Eagle Nashik Titans chased it down in just four overs.
After their first defeat of the season, the Ratnagiri-based outfit dropped more points. The PBG Kolhapur Tuskers once again bested them, just as they had during the league stage of MPL 2023. Despite a hard-fought contest, Nikhil Naik’s 17-ball 37* cameo ultimately went in vain.
So far, so good for the Ratnagiri Jets. They are at the top of the MPL 2024 table, but with only net run rate separating them and the Eagle Nashik Titans, the reigning MPL champions will want to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.
