In a sane year, a Ranji final ought to be selling itself. But for India, this has been a winter of discontent. The commoner can’t be completely distanced from the pangs of Australia. Having an unreserved engagement with cricket may have been a challenge.
In such times, Rajasthan share a compelling tale. A side that is worth going some distance, if not miles, to see. They’ll be playing Tamil Nadu in the five-day Ranji Trophy final beginning at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday.
In no way is it a beast versus beast stuff. Tamil Nadu are the more formidable and experienced unit. And they have a clear blueprint for victory — home advantage, flat deck, five bowlers and overdose of spin. What then is the story?
The answer is Rajasthan, a unit that’s anything but beautiful. Their openers have safe, utilitarian styles. With the exception of Ashok Menaria, out because of a groin injury, none of their middle-order bats is worth a ticket. Unless it’s Rohtak, their quicks don’t give you a torrid hour either.
In the middle of the Ranji season, you wouldn’t have taken them seriously. Relegation stared them in the face as they conceded first-innings points in their first five matches. Were the defending champions one-season freaks?
Now, here they are, about to play their second successive Ranji final. Call them ugly but Rajasthan have got that one thing right: staying afloat and finding a way to win. They are, what you would call, the survivors.
Part of Rajasthan’s early problems could be attributed to the form of Deepak Chahar who was all over YouTube last year. The story goes that the boy, blessed with so much natural swing, has been a victim of overcoaching. Apparently, one of his mentors wanted him to be a Dale Steyn. End of one story, beginning of another.
In comes 19-year-old Rituraj Singh, a kind of foil Rajasthan’s pace spearhead Pankaj Singh desperately wanted. With an action best described as a flurry of quick arms, Rituraj bowls a decisive spell in the semis against Haryana.
In fact, there’s an underlying theme in Rajasthan’s run to the final. Each time a player was down on form, they’ve had the options.
Wicketkeeper Dinesh Yagnik reclaimed his rightful place when Rohit Jhalani didn’t deliver. Puneet Yadav has stepped up in Menaria’s absence. Skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar may not have had as splendid a season as last year, but Robin Bist (with 885 runs) has more than made amends. Weak link, if Rajasthan has one, is spin.
In contrast, Tamil Nadu are well-rounded. They always had the batting giants. And now they have rediscovered their pep, largely because of their medium-pace battery comprising skipper L Balaji, Yo Mahesh and J Kaushik (who’s been a true find).
It’s been close to 25 years since Tamil Nadu last won the Ranji. Isn’t that a long time for a top cricketing state?
Teams (probable)
Rajasthan: A Chopra, V Saxena, H Kanitkar (C), R Bist, R Parida, P Yadav, D Yagnik (WK), R Singh, G Singh, P Singh, S Mathur
TN: A Mukund, M Vijay, S Badrinath, D Karthik (WK), K Vasudevadas, R Prasanna, Yo Mahesh, S Gupta,L Balaji (C), J Kaushik, A Srinivas
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