Mumbai, Nov. 20 -- With three outright wins in five matches, Mumbai are sitting pretty at the top of the Group D Ranji Trophy Elite League table on 24 points. Mumbai's recent record in the premier domestic tournament hasn't been too bad, having won the title two years ago (2023-24). Yet what also matters apart from winning when you are playing for the 42-time champions is the manner of victory, because the benchmark has been set so dominantly high by the past champion teams. That's what stands out in Mumbai's performances so far this season. The Shardul Thakur-led team is looking more solid and better balanced in both batting and bowling. Puducherry's challenge was brushed aside in the game that ended on Wednesday morning, with the home side wrapping up the opposition's last four wickets within half an hour on the fourth morning to complete an innings and 222-run victory. It gave Mumbai back-to-back innings victories, having routed Himachal Pradesh in their previous game. Thakur is enjoying his first season as Mumbai captain. "Of course, I am very happy to lead the team. When the selectors asked me whether I am ready to lead the team or not, I immediately said yes," Thakur said in the post-match press conference. "And I have my own way of dealing with things and situations in the game. So far it is coming out well. I am very happy with the effort that the boys have put in so far in these five games." One player who has made a difference for Mumbai has been Siddhesh Lad, providing stability in the middle-order with 530 runs (three hundreds) in seven innings at an average of 88.33. Thakur, who has played with Lad from his young days, reserved high praise for the stylish batter. "It is unfortunate that he could not play much higher level of cricket. But the talent he has, he has shown it year after year. He has won knockout games for Mumbai, he has also won the final. If you remember the final of 2015-16, early morning on Day 3 (in Pune), he made a crucial 88 (101 balls)," the Mumbai captain said. "Those 90s, I would say they were equal to 150. Because from there, we got a big lead. And then we were able to win that match against Saurashtra." In any Mumbai team, there is always a debate around having players aged 30-plus versus promoting young talent. Lad is 33, while Thakur himself is 34. "All these innings (by Lad) are played by a match-winner only. And when there is a player who is a match-winner, his age is not considered. If he is performing, if he is fit, then he should definitely play," said Thakur. "There is no rule anywhere that only youngsters can play cricket and once you are over 30, you can't play. This sport is as much about fitness as it is about skills. At the end of the day, what matters is wickets and runs." As per BCCI's schedule for the season, there is a break in the Ranji Trophy after the first five games for the two national white-ball tournaments - the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy and the T20 Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the eight-team Ranji group, Mumbai have two games remaining, against Hyderabad and Delhi. "Yes, sitting at the top of the table (before the brief break) in the Ranji Trophy, when we come back it gives you a massive advantage mentally," the captain said. "But yes, it would be important to switch on straightaway after the break. Because if we could get as many points from the sixth game (versus Hyderabad), potentially six, then we will qualify straightaway (for the knockouts)." Asked if he was in favour of a break between the Ranji Trophy or in completing one format and then going to the next one, the all-rounder said: "I feel there would always be mixed views on it, but personally I am okay with it. To play 10 first-class games in a row, it's tough on the bodies." Brief scores (select matches): In Mumbai: Mumbai 630/5d beat Puducherry 132 & 276. In Nagpur: Vidarbha 169 & 272 (Yash Rathod 91, Dhruv Shorey 61; Atit Sheth 5/47) beat Baroda 166 & 131 (Darshan Nalkande 5/12). In Rajkot: Saurashtra 587/7d beat Goa 358 & 180. In Dehradun: Uttarakhand 272 & 197 (Aarav Mahajan 60; Siddharth Desai 3/44, Vishal Jayswal 4/72) lost to Gujarat 324/8d & 291/5d....