Ranji trophy: Aavishkar Salvi, Sushant Marathe ruled out of Mumbai

Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal campaign has been hit by a major roadblock. Two key players — seamer Aavishkar Salvi and wicket-keeper batsman Sushant Marathe — have been ruled out.

Abhishek Nair, who suffered a fracture on his left hand thumb in the match against Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow, is already doubtful.

It will be a huge headache for the selectors who sit down on Wednesday to pick a 15-member squad for the knockout match against Madhya Pradesh, starting on January 2. Salvi and Marathe injured themselves in the last game against Punjab at the Wankhede. In fact, the seamer bowled just one over before a side strain ruled him out of the match. Marathe has failed to recover from a groin strain he suffered during the same game. The southpaw had roared back into form by hitting a hundred against UP.

A fitness test on Nair would be conducted before the selectors meet. “Salvi and Marathe have been ruled out of the quarterfinals,” an official told DNA.

Salvi’s injury means that Mumbai would have an inexperienced seam attack comprising Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr (1 FC match), Kshemal Waingankar (9 FC matches) and Murtuza Hussain (8 FC matches). Dhaval Kulkarni, who was rested in the last game, will, however, be available.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Ajit Agarkar will make himself available for the important tie. “Right now there is no update on Agarkar. We have asked him, but he hasn’t responded,” said a source.