12 January,2009 07:20 AM IST | | Amol Karhadkar
Sachin Tendulkar (left) and Zaheer Khan. pic/AFP
If Tendulkar & Co can guard against complacency, then UP doesn't seem to have much of a chance to prevent Mumbai from running away with their 38th title
It is supposed to be the most important annual fixture in the domestic cricket calendar. And the Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai, the undisputed giants of the tournament, and Uttar Pradesh, the most consistent outfit in the tourney's recent past, which starts at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium today, promises to live up to expectations.
After all, 12 of the 31 players from both the squads have already donned India colours in at least one form of the game. Add to it the presence of stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, seasoned players like Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar and Rudra Pratap Singh and the young guns like Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar and Suresh Raina, and the match becomes as big as an international fixture.
Not about stars
But despite the presence of the big names, the teams had their focus on winning the five-day tie.
"It's not about the individual stars but what matters more is winning the Ranji Trophy," UP skipper Kaif said yesterday.
Mumbai, with 37 Ranji triumphs, will enter the tie as favourites. But there's no way they can take UP lightly.
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After all, Kaif's boys have made it to the summit clash for the third time in the last four seasons, winning their maiden crown in 2005-06.
No doubt, Tendulkar and Zaheer's presence in their line-up, definitely gives Mumbai the edge. But Kaif did not want to concede the advantage to Mumbai.
"Even if you take Zaheer and Sachin out of the team, they are a fantastic unit," Kaif said. "They have won almost every match this season. And Zak and Sachin have been around only for the semi-final."
Complacency
True. Of the nine matches Wasim Jaffer's bunch has played thus far in the season, they have registered eight outright victories. So all they have to avoid is the C-word going into the all-important game.
"We were a bit lax in the field on the third evening of the semi-final in Chennai," skipper Jaffer said. "But we can't afford to do that here. Even Sachin spoke to all of us in Chennai and advised us not to get complacent. I don't think it will be a danger."
Praveen Kumar has spearheaded UP's bowling attack as good as he has been doing over the last four years. And the swing bowler would be hoping for left-armer RP, who missed the last couple of matches due to a shoulder injury, to share the red cherry with him.
"RP is looking good. He bowled yesterday and today as well and he is feeling good. But we will wait for tomorrow morning before taking the final call," Kaif said yesterday.
MiD DAY, however, learnt later in the day that RP has completely recovered and was raring to have a go at Tendulkar and Co.
Emotional
The Mumbai camp, just like ahead of the Chennai game, was divided over whether to be emotional or professional with their playing XI.
With a five-day match, it's imperative for Mumbai to go in with two spinners. That means Sairaj Bahutule, who was benched in the semis to give Amol Muzumdar enough time to become the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy history, is a surety in the playing XI.
Leg-spinner Bahutule's inclusion means either Muzumdar, who is still 31 runs shy of the all-time Ranji runs landmark, or Abhishek Nayar will have to carry the drinks.
And one won't be surprised if Nayar, despite proving his utility with the bat and the ball, would be the unlucky one. After all, sidelining either of the last two Ranji-winning captains (Muzumdar in 2006-07 and Bahutule in 2003-04) will not be easy for the team management.
The stage is set for a lively domestic cricket match, something that's become a rarity due to an overdose of international cricket.
