The season opening Irani Trophy has always been a prime opportunity for Test aspirants to make statements of intent. Left arm spinner Murali Kartik would have fully aware of the boundless possibilities created by the timing of the contest. Mumbai won the toss and elected to make first use of the wicket at the Wankhede Stadium. The proceedings went Mumbai's way until Murali Kartik was introduced in the 16th over; with his sixth ball, he packed off the impetuous Vinayak Mane. Kartik chipped away persistently at the top order, coming off with an unchanged first spell of 19-5-36-4 from the Tata end. His spin twin, the offie, Sharandeep Singh took care of the tail as Mumbai settled at 260.

In reply, Rest of India marched to 389, mainly due to a typically fluent 167 from skipper VVS Laxman and an able supporting role by Mohammed Kaif. Trailing by 129, Mumbai began confidently as openers Vinayak Mane and Wasim Jaffer raised a first wicket stand of 89. Hereon began an extraordinary bowling performance from Kartik. Bowling again from the Tata end, Kartik took all five wickets to fall on the third evening in an uninterrupted spell of 5/58. The Mumbai openers tried to give him the charge and perished to catchers at mid-on and mid-off respectively. But the rest were all snapped up in the close-in cordon of slip, silly point and forward short leg that hemmed in the bat.

The next morning, Kartik, continuing without a break took four more wickets on the trot. Just when everyone was convinced that he would emulate only four other Indians to take all ten wickets in an innings, last man Santosh Saxena knocked Sharandeep Singh into extra cover to rob him of the feat. Kartik turned in final pickings of 9/70, a record for the Irani Trophy, as Mumbai were rolled over for 184. The Rest openers knocked off the 56 runs needed with ridiculous ease to complete a ten wicket victory before lunch on the fourth day. All five national selectors were present on the occasion and would have needed little prodding to put down his name for the Test side a few days later.