The clock had just ticked over to 2:50pm when Rajat Patidar drove Sarfaraz Khan through covers for an unglamourous single, an event that crowned Madhya Pradesh as the newest, latest champions of the Ranji Trophy.

Convincing victory

In so many ways, that small slice of action summed up Madhya Pradesh’s journey through the country’s premier domestic competition. While favouritism was heaped on the traditional powerhouses, Aditya Shrivasatava’s men quietly carved their way through the field, their six-wicket conquest of Mumbai at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on the final day achieved with little fuss or drama.