With Ishant Sharma and Chetanya Nanda back, Delhi are on a high; Mumbai, meanwhile, are likely to miss the firepower of Dhawal Kulkarni and Ajit Agarkar.
A shrewd businessman could relate quite easily to the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Mumbai and Delhi beginning here at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday. A quick look at the ‘profit and loss statement’ reveals the New Year has spelt sorrow for the hosts and cheer for the visitors.
On one hand, Wasim Jaffer’s side was dealt with a crushing double blow with young pacer Dhawal Kulkarni all but ruled out with a side strain and vice-captain Ajit Agarkar feeling ‘feverish’.
And on the other, Delhi welcomed the return of a certain Ishant Sharma and a fit-again leg-spinner in Chetanya Nanda for the game, which will be played on a true ‘result’ pitch adjacent to the one that produced a Virender Sehwag special recently.
Dhawal picked up the niggle during the quarterfinal tie last week and did not bowl at the nets. Agarkar was probably done in by the weather in Jaipur where he was seen holidaying with family. His absence could have an impact given his form with the bat besides his knack of picking up wickets out of nowhere. Coach Pravin Amre, however, said a final call would be taken on Sunday morning.
With Rohit Sharma away on national duty and the top-order looking shaky throughout the season, skipper Jaffer candidly declared he’d open the batting with the in-form Sahil Kukreja, who scored a double hundred the last time the two sides met. The prospect of a fired-up Ishant up against a cool-headed Jaffer makes for a mouth-watering contest. Ajinkya Rahane, who looks set to amass 1,000 first-class runs for the second time in a row, will come in at No.3.
With Onkar Khanvilkar, Abhishek Nayar and Vinayak Samant to follow, the hosts’ middle order has a settled look. Offie Ramesh Powar, who bowled himself into form during the last game, and top wicket-taker Iqbal Abdulla have batted better than the specialist batsmen and saved the side from many an embarrassing situation.
After having knocked out league toppers Tamil Nadu, Rajat Bhatia’s Delhi are on a high. Youngsters Gaurav Chabra and wicketkeeper Puneet Bisht grabbed the chance with match-winning tons. When asked if Delhi are favourites, skipper Rajat Bhatia said: “Yes, definitely. The boys are confident after the last victory and we would like to beat Mumbai in Mumbai.”
Both teams have played mediocre cricket this season but have still managed to make the semis. It just shows the stuff players from either side are made of. Each of those traits will be visible over the next four days.
Likely XI:
Mumbai: W Jaffer (C), S Kukreja, A Rahane, O Khanvilkar, A Nayar, V Samant (wk), A Agarkar/S Marathe, R Powar, I Abdulla, A Salvi, U Malvi
Delhi: R Bhatia (C), S Dhawan, M Tehlan, A Jain, M Manhas, G Chabra, P Bisht (wk), I Sharma, C Nanda, V Mishra, P Sangwan
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