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Mumbai stars were spotted wearing protective masks during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the MCA Cricket Ground on January 29.
Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan and Himanshu Singh caught everyone’s attention during Thursday’s 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match as they were the first two players to protect themselves from the choking pollution and dust brought on by nearby construction work.
Mumbai players wear masks while playing in suffocating air during 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match
Even another Mumbai player, Mushir Khan, joined in the precautionary measures and took to the field wearing a mask due to the poor air quality.
Your daily dose of cricket!
polluting power #MusheerKhan Wear a mask too! https://t.co/Zk0IbYz6Rf
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) January 29, 2026
Pollution and nearby construction ensure Mumbai players wear masks while playing #RanjiTrophy game. pic.twitter.com/ZM5F6HbLLi
— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) January 29, 2026
two players #mumbairanjitrophy All team members wear masks while on duty. #sarfarazhan and #himanshusinger
— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) January 29, 2026
The incident has sparked discussion about the growing impact of urban pollution on sport, with many calling for urgent attention to protecting players’ health during cricket matches, particularly when matches are staged in polluted cities.
Mumbai-Delhi classic rivalry feels empty
Mumbai vs Delhi Ranji Trophy matches are usually exciting but this time the match lost its appeal. Neither team has big-name stars, so the stakes are low; there isn’t much excitement for fans. Mumbai have been unstoppable in the Elite Group D.
Mumbai have already booked their place in the quarter-finals with 30 points from six games, which means their knockout matches will all be played at home, giving them a big advantage. Delhi, on the other hand, struggled throughout the match.
Delhi have not recorded a single win, drawn five games and lost one. With not much to watch, their game against Mumbai lacked the intensity that fans would normally expect.
Mumbai vs Delhi Ranji Trophy match begins with tribute to Ajit Pawar
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Delhi started with an emotional moment as players, officials and fans came together to pay tribute to the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. A moment of silence was observed to commemorate Pawar’s life, memory and contribution to the country.
The memorial service at the MCA Cricket Ground created a solemn atmosphere. Fans in the stands bowed their heads in tribute, expressing solidarity with the people of Maharashtra at this tragic moment. Notably, Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday morning when the plane he was traveling in crashed while trying to land near Baramati, shocking the state.
Sanat Sangwan scores stunning century for Delhi
Talking about the Ranji Trophy match, Mumbai won the toss and invited Delhi to bat first in the match. Delhi got off to a poor start as opener Dhruv Kaushik was dismissed cheaply for seven runs. But Sanat Sangwan rose to the occasion under pressure and continued to bowl brilliantly to help Delhi stay alive in the match.
However, Sangwan did not get support from the opposition and his wickets kept falling. The Delhi opener then smashed a stunning 218-ball score of 118 runs in the stumps against Mumbai, taking the team to over 220/8. Apart from Sangwan, Vaibhav Kandpal (32) and Pranav Rajvanshi (39) are the only two batsmen to cross the 30-run mark on day one.
