After eking out a tense two-wicket victory over Railways the other day, the defending champions would want nothing less than an outright win when they take on Assam in a Group ‘A’ tie from Wednesday.
The TV promo — Mission Domination — for India’s Test series against New Zealand can as well fit in for Wasim Jaffer’s Mumbai in Ranji Trophy. After eking out a tense two-wicket victory over Railways the other day, the defending champions would want nothing less than an outright win when they take on Assam in a Group ‘A’ tie from Wednesday.
The good news is that both vice-captain Ajit Agarkar and Abhishek Nayar are fit. Jaffer has a sore throat but will take the field. Winning is a good habit and Mumbai would look to extend their lead.
Well, a Mumbai-Assam encounter can never be previewed as ‘mouth-watering’. But this one, to be played at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, could end up being just that. If not the entire match, at least a sub-plot is worth an attention.
Enter Amol Muzumdar: A product of Mumbai’s maidans, a champion batsman, run accumulator and above all Ranji Trophy-winning skipper. It’s not often that a player with no international experience enhances so much interest in a first class game, but that’s Muzumdar and his pedigree.
For someone who left the city for not-so-green pastures, the 37-year-old is a connoisseur’s delight. Technically sound and a perfectionist, he single-handedly led Assam’s resurgence and promotion to the Super League last year.
So is he all set for a battle with his former mates? “I am here to enjoy my time,” Muzumdar said. “I have told my boys that this tour of Mumbai could be an education in itself. They can learn from this match. This is Mumbai, not any other side.” And does he expect to be a target of Mumbai’s khadoos attitude? “Just watch and you’ll know,” he said with a wry smile. Like a Mumbai player put it, “Knowing the fierce competitor that Amol is, he would love to score a hundred against us.” That is Muzumdar for you.
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