Baroda off-spinning all-rounder Mahesh Pithiya produced a match-defining display against Jammu and Kashmir in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, scoring 102 off 214 balls from No. 8 and picking up five wickets across both innings. The knock included six fours and two sixes, and Pithiya backed it up with two wickets in the first innings and three in the second. Baroda secured three points by taking the first-innings lead in the Elite Group A contest.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who himself represented Baroda in domestic cricket and is now a cricket commentator and analyst, took to his official Instagram account to single out Pithiya for special mention. Pathan, born in Baroda on October 27, 1984, has a close connection with the state's cricketing culture, and his endorsement of a fellow Baroda player drew considerable attention.
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Irfan Pathan's Instagram praise for Pithiya
Pithiya's effort was part of a strong team performance in which Priyanshu Moliya struck a triple century in Baroda's first innings of the same match, putting the side in a commanding position against the defending Ranji Trophy champions.
Pathan's Instagram story laid out Pithiya's numbers in clear terms. In the current 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season, Pithiya has scored one century and one half-century with the bat, while also claiming 19 wickets with the ball. Pathan also highlighted Pithiya's first-class career record, noting 108 wickets from 26 matches (before clash against Jammu and Kashmir) as a particularly strong return for a domestic spinner.
"Have no doubt he is made for big level. Keep an eye on this lad from baroda. This Ranji season he has one 100 one half-century. 19 wickets. Impressive career stats of 26 matches 108 wickets," said Pathan wrote on his Instagram story.
Beyond red-ball cricket, Pithiya has featured in 22 T20 matches. With the bat in that format, he has faced just 15 balls across his opportunities and hit three fours and as many sixes, while with the ball he has taken 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.02. Those T20 numbers place him in a relevant bracket as the IPL 2027 mini-auction approaches. Not too many teams have quality off-spinners who can tonk the ball down the order.
The broader context around Pithiya's rise includes the fact that Washington Sundar has been the primary off-spinning all-rounder backed by the Indian team in recent years, while Naman Dhir has also been given opportunities at the international level and made an early impression. Pithiya's domestic output, particularly his wicket tally and the century at No. 8, adds his name to the conversation around that all-rounder slot. Baroda have historically produced prominent India cricketers, including Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya, and Pithiya is now among the names drawing attention from that state.
