New Delhi: The Bengal team under Laxmi Ratan Shukla will aim to put up a dominant performance against an upbeat Services team when the two sides square off for their fifth round Group B Ranji Trophy encounter at the Airforce ground in Palam from tomorrow.
Bengal are currently placed fifth in the table with eight points from four games while Services, who got their first three points against Madhya Pradesh in the last round, are seventh in the nine-team table with five points in their kitty.
On paper, Bengal look a more formidable side with a lot of first-class experience in Shukla, who will be playing his 100th Ranji Trophy game. Not to forget India's reserve Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and pacer Ashoke Dinda, who has been a fringe India player for quite some years.
For Services, their main batsman is veteran Yashpal Singh while all-rounder Rajat Palliwal has recently played for India A against the West Indies. Their strike bowler is pacer Suraj Yadav who provided some major breakthroughs in the last game.
However, it won't be a very easy job to get past a Services side that reached the semifinals last year and was good enough to snatch three points from a very solid MP side in its previous game.
"We can't take Services lightly as we conceded three points against MP and they got three against the same side. Our problem has been that no one is getting a big score although we are getting partnerships. The absence of Manoj Tiwary (recuperating from knee surgery) and Mohammed Shami (on national duty) has affected the balance of the side," coach Ashok Malhotra said after the training session.
The pitch at the Palam A ground is low and slow in nature and that's the reason why Iresh Saxena has been added in the 12-member squad for tomorrow's encounter.
It will be interesting to see whether Bengal pick Saxena in their playing XI at the expense of Sourav Sarkar as Dinda, Shib Shankar Paul and Shukla are their to handle seam department. Sandipan Das is the back-up seamer.
Shukla, who is the first cricketer from Bengal to play 100 Ranji Trophy matches, is more concerned about playing good cricket.
"These are milestones which don't really bother me now. The aim is to not get distracted by numbers and figures and concentrate on playing a good match. Yes, this is my 100th Ranji match for Bengal and I am proud. But that's it," Shukla said in a very matter-of-fact manner after taking throwdowns at the nets.
Dinda had severe toothache but the team manager Atanu Ghosh informed that he is almost certain to play tomorrow.
Scratchy TN take on confident Saurashtra
Scratchy TN take on confident Saurashtra
Chennai: Former Ranji Trophy champions Tamil Nadu will hold a slight edge over Saurashtra when the teams lock horns in their Ranji Trophy group B league encounter starting at the Chepauk tomorrow.
Right from the commencement of the season, last year's finalists Tamil Nadu have been in the wrong end and now tottering at the sixth place amongst eight teams with 7 points from three drawn and one abandoned games so far.
On the other hand, Saurashtra have commenced their campaign with a superb display and inflicted an innings and 31 run win defeat to Rajasthan, have drawn against Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Railways -- the table toppers with 17 points.
However, going by the present form and depth in their batting, Tamil Nadu enjoys an edge over Saurashtra, though India medium pacer Jayadev Unadkat is set to join the team tonight.
Like opening batsman, Murali Vijay of Tamil Nadu, Unadkat will also be taking to this match as an excellent opportunity to sharpen his skills.
As for Tamil Nadu, who enjoys home advantage are still under pressure not having scored an outright win despite a well-balanced squad.
However, captain Laxmipathy Balaji expressed confidence in his team lthough things didn't work out as per plan in the last match.
Sausrahstra captain Jaydev Shah said,"Tamil Nadu have a strong batting line-up and if play to our potential, we should be able to make a mark in the final outcome of this match".
Poor bowling and fielding have been the reasons for the hosts mixed performances this season besides lack of killer instinct in crunch situations.
They failed to cash in on strong situations in their previous three matches. Perhaps, they would be going all out for an outright win since playing at home.
However, it is not going to be easy task ahead as Cheteshwar Pujaraja has also joined their ranks before departing for South Africa next month.
Tamil Nadu too have a good batting strength as key batsmen Baba Aparajith, S Badrinath, R Prasanna, Dinesh Karthik and also Murali Vijay, who has been in scratchy form.
