Often termed as the entertainment capital of the country, Mumbai is undoubtedly the home of cricket in India. It has been a fortress in Indian cricket and a nursery that has been churning out cricketers for the highest level. The inaugural edition of T20 Mumbai saw a plethora of talented individuals taking centre-stage, showcasing some riveting performances with both bat and ball. Here are a few of the top performances that lit the league stage on fire.

Sujit Nayak’s 99* vs Arcs Andheri (Match 13)

SoBo SuperSonics’ gentle giant Sujit Nayak awoke from his slumber to wreak havoc on a jam-packed Saturday evening at the Wankhede Stadium. He blasted nine towering sixes on his way to an unbeaten 42-ball 99. A clean swing of the bat to go with ferocious ball-striking, Nayak got to his half-century in just 26 deliveries. He took a liking to Andheri’s leggie, Pardeep Sahu and even smashed him for a 20-run over. Even after being in touching distance of what could have been the league’s maiden hundred, Nayak urged his partner at the other end to ignore rotating the strike and swing hard in the final deliveries of the game. Rohan Raje, who was at the other end, obliged as he struck two massive hits in the end that propelled the men in yellow to a massive 236. For his bludgeoning knock and his selflessness, Sujit Nayak’s innings is perhaps the best of the lot.

Shivam Dubey’s 5-24 and 47* vs Triumph Knights Mumbai North East (Match 5)

After making his debut for Mumbai in the shortest format earlier this year, Shivam Dubey teed off Shivaji Park Lions’ campaign in dream style when he picked the first fiver of the league in the side’s second T20 Mumbai match. Against a threatening Triumph Knights Mumbai North East batting outfit, Shivam’s discipline and accuracy won the day as the Knights were all-out for an attainable 152. In the next innings, Dubey found himself on the crease with Lions desperately needing him to do a finisher’s job. He rose to the occasion and belted four sixes in his brisk 23-ball 47 and took his team home with five balls to spare. His fine all-around performance gave Lions a crucial two points and could be instrumental in taking them to the playoffs as well.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 69 vs Shivaji Park Lions (Match 9)

One of the major finds of the league, the lone wolf of North Mumbai Panthers, Yashasvi Jaiswal had crafted a significant knock that played a huge part in taking his team over the line in a tricky run chase. The 16-year-old was guilty of giving away 27 runs in his three overs on a difficult wicket to bat on. But when the southpaw walked out to bat, he impressed everyone, not only with his array of shots but also with the tremendous temperament which was on display. On a slow, low, crumbing wicket, Jaiswal kept collecting ones and twos, only to pounce on any loose ball from the Shivaji Park Lions. He took the total past the triple figure mark and only then attempted the big shots. The three sixes he hit put his team well within the reach of the target. His M.S. Dhoni-like batting not only ensured the only two points Panthers have managed this season, but also confirmed the fact that he is a star in the making.

Akash Parkar’s 39* vs Namo Bandra Blasters (Match 10)

A stable base, still head, long handle, powerful swing, and bam! Akash Parkar had cleared his front leg to hit a six off the last ball to take the Triumph Knights Mumbai North East into the playoffs. With the required rate soaring over 10 in the final overs of a daunting run-chase, Parkar made his intentions clear when he collected 23 of the penultimate over, with still plenty to be done in the final six deliveries. It all came down to the last ball of the match when he held his nerve and struck a maximum. His Miandad-esque heroics now take his runs tally to 131 with an unbelievable strike rate of 211. Parkar was instrumental his team’s first victory as well when had scored a 37-ball 82 in another nail-biting contest.

Shubham Ranjane’s 65 and 2-18 vs North Mumbai Panthers (Match 1)

ARCS Andheri found a real utility cricketer in the form of all-rounder Shubham Ranjane, who got their campaign off to a flyer with a responsible 65 with the bat and a couple of crucial wickets that ensured a victory over North Mumbai Panthers in the opening game of the league. Ranjane was involved in a magnificent 117-run partnership with Parag Khanapurkar that took his team to a par total on a first day Wankhede pitch, recovering from a discouraging 16 for 4. And then it was his double strike with the ball, in which he removed experienced Ajinkya Rahane and young Prithvi Shaw cheaply, that broke the back of the Panthers batting order. Ranjane’s spectacular all-round performance got the league up and running in great style.