The show goes on. As the Ranji Trophy heads into the quarter-final stage, the India stars are gone after playing in the last two rounds of group league games. However, for the players of the eight teams contesting for the four semi-final spots, this is a vital time of the season. For months, they have been preparing for this. A quick look at the quarter-final match-ups.
Mumbai vs Haryana, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The defending and 42-time champions are always the favourites in knockout games. They lift their game when it comes to this and keep finding men who bail them out of tight situations. Last year, they benefited from lower-order heroes like Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian and even No. 11 Tushar Deshpande. This year, it’s been Shardul Thakur. They also have a strong batting unit led by captain Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Ayush Mhatre. Sarfaraz Khan is missing due to an injury.
Haryana are one of the most improved sides in the domestic circuit. They won the national T20 title last season and this season, they have made their presence felt in the longer format by topping their group, eliminating Karnataka and Bengal in the process. The pitch and the 9 am start at Eden Gardens should assist their fast bowlers. Anshul Kamboj is going great guns and they also have able back-ups. Batting, though, might be an area of concern.
Players to watch: Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai), Anshul Kamboj (Haryana)
Vidarbha vs Tamil Nadu, VCA Civil Lines Stadium, Nagpur
Vidarbha doesn’t have players in the national team at the moment, but they are among the most consistent Ranji Trophy sides. Winners of two successive editions a few years ago and runners-up last season, they know how to get the job done. Their batting is clicking with contributions from Akshay Wadkar, Yash Rathod and Karun Nair. Their bowling focus has shifted from spin, but left-arm orthodox Harsh Dubey is the most successful bowler of the season with 55 scalps.
Tamil Nadu have done well to come here despite playing with a new-look side. N Jagadeesan has been the most prolific batter and they also found runs from Andre Siddarth and Vijay Shankar. The return of Sai Sudharsan is a boost. The attack continues to rely on spin. Left-armers Sai Kishore and Ajith Ram are the main names in this department. Not to forget, left-arm quick Gurjapneet Singh has made an impression in his debut season.
Players to watch: Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha), N Jagadeesan (Tamil Nadu)
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🚨Suryakumar Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane at Eden Gardens ahead of the Ranji Trophy Quarter Final against Haryana @debasissen with the visuals #RanjiTrophy @ajinkyarahane88 @surya_14kumar @ThumsUpOfficial pic.twitter.com/5CSGsjA835
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Saurashtra vs Gujarat, Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
Twice champions in the last four seasons, Saurashtra hold an edge at home. After garnering a mere four points from four games, they won the last three with a bonus point in each. Opener Harvik Desai has been in good nick and all-rounder Chirag Jani has excelled after being promoted to the top. They have Cheteshwar Pujara, Jaidev Unadkat, Arpit Vasavada, a utility man in Prerak Mankad and effective spinners in Dharmendra Sinh Jadeja and Yuvraj Dodiya. It’s a very balanced side.
Gujarat made the cut with four outright wins from seven games and a tally of 32 points. This is a side sans big names. Former India A opener Priyank Panchal has had a middling season and the runs have come mainly from Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia and Umang Kumar. The bowling is dependent heavily on left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai. Left-arm medium-pacer Arzan Nagaswalla’s experience can also come in handy in this clash of teams from the same state.
Players to watch: Cheteshwar Pujara (Saurashtra), Siddharth Desai (Gujarat)
Jammu & Kashmir vs Kerala, MCA Stadium, Pune
Hardly anybody predicted J&K to top a group featuring Mumbai, Baroda and Maharashtra. They rely mainly on fast bowlers. People remember Umar Nazir for dismissing Rohit Sharma in their conquest of Mumbai in Mumbai. But, Auqib Nabi is the second-highest wicket-taker this season with 38 scalps from seven outings. In Pune, they might have to fall back on spin. Opener Shubham Khajuria, along with Abdul Samad and Abid Mushtaq, are the mainstays in batting.
Kerala have found timely contributions in batting. None of them tally above 400, but Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Rohan Kunnumal and Sachin Baby have provided the runs when needed. There is no Sanju Samson in this game and Baba Aprajith hasn’t done much after switching over from Tamil Nadu. Their spinners might hold an edge if it’s a typical Pune pitch. Off-spinner Jalaj Saxena and former Vidarbha left-armer Aditya Sarvate have been successful this season.
Players to watch: Auqib Nabi (J&K), Jalaj Saxena (Kerala)
Also Read: Bengal captain Majumdar picks Mumbai, Haryana and Saurashtra before Ranji quarters