Mumbai vs Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match. It doesn’t get any better than this. And, if it’s in the knock-out stage, the stakes are even higher. Karnataka, who once stopped Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy title-winning streak at 15 in the 1970s, are determined to win their ninth title. It has been 11 seasons since Karnataka last won (in Mumbai when they defeated Tamil Nadu in the 2014-15 final). Karnataka haven’t made it to the final since.

New skipper Padikkal

Having made it to the quarter-final this season on the back of their newly-appointed captain Devdutt Padikkal’s breezy 120 not out against Punjab in their last league match when they were faced with a must-win situation, and boasting of a strong batting line-up, Karnataka will pose a major challenge to the home side that enjoys playing at the MCA-BKC ground. Mumbai have had outright wins more often than not here.