Bengal target back-to-back finals, Mumbai favourites against UP
Perennial underachievers, MP, have the chance to make their first final since 1998-99
MP captain Aditya Shrivastava was five years old when they last reached the Ranji Trophy title round, in 1998-99. Chandrakant Pandit was the MP captain then, and 23 years later, he has led them to the semi-finals. None of the current team members were even born when the team - then called Holkar - lifted the trophy, way back in 1952-53. However, the perennial underachievers now have the opportunity to collect the silverware they so yearn for.
High-flying Kartikeya believes MP have the ability to 'go all the way'
Stats: Mumbai's margin breaks 92-year-old record, Bengal shatter 129-year-old record
Jaiswal: 'I'm so tough mentally because I have to be on my toes all the time'
With Pandit in charge, MP players have no time to pause - 'must rectify mistakes before semi-final'
How UP pulled off a heist to reach Ranji semi-finals
It didn't matter that Mumbai just managed to sneak into the knockouts (they also had to rely on other results to go their way in the group stage). Making a strong statement in the quarter-finals with the biggest ever first-class win, of 725 runs versus Uttarakhand, Mumbai begin as favourites against UP at the Just Cricket Academy.
Srinidhi Ramanujam is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo