Ranji Trophy: Shashank Singh opens up on upcoming match against Mumbai

Chhattisgarh’s Shashank Singh during a practice session at MCA’s BKC ground on Friday. Pics/Atul Kamble

Chhattisgarh all-rounder Shashank Singh, 33, who toiled hard on the Mumbai maidans while growing up and represented Mumbai in age-group cricket and white-ball formats, is excited about playing his maiden Ranji Trophy game against the 42-time champions at the MCA-BKC ground starting today. Shashank, an attacking batter, who did exceptionally well for Punjab Kings in IPL-18, scoring 350 runs as a finisher, is keen to showcase his class in the red-ball game against the city he grew up in.

Never in Mumbai's Ranji side

"I have played all my age group cricket like U-19, U-23 for Mumbai and also represented Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy and Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but I was never part of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy team. I even represented Mumbai University in the Vizzy Trophy in an inter-university tournament," Shashank, who has played 23 first-class matches so far, told mid-day on the eve of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘D' league game on Friday.

Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan during a practice session at the MCA's BKC ground on Friday

When asked if he will have added motivation to play against Mumbai, Shashank said: "This will be my first Ranji Trophy game versus Mumbai. I'm very excited to play here and against Mumbai. We know that if we perform well against them [Mumbai], we will get a lot of appreciation. So, as a team, we are all pumped up to do well. Actually, we pray for such matches because such special moments are rare in a player's life. Playing against Mumbai, beating Mumbai in Mumbai is a very different feeling. So, I think we visualised this and we have that belief. You will get to see good cricket in the next four days."

Meanwhile, the Shardul Thakur-led Mumbai side, who began well by beating Jammu & Kashmir in the opening game, will aim to capitalise on their good start. It will also be a vital game for Mumbai's out-of-favour India batter Sarfaraz Khan, who has not been considered for the four-day India ‘A' matches against South Africa to be played in Bengaluru from October 30. Sarfaraz, 28, who has scored 371 runs in six Tests, made 42 and 32 in Mumbai's match against J&K recently.

Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur

Thakur backs Sarfaraz

When Thakur was asked about Sarfaraz not getting a chance in the India ‘A' team, he reckoned that the hard-hitting batter's performance in Ranji will help him get back to the Test team. "Nowadays, for the India ‘A' side, they [selectors] look at boys, who they want to prepare for international cricket. Sarfaraz doesn't need India ‘A' games to play international cricket. If he gets back to scoring again, he can straight away go and play in the Test series also," Thakur remarked.

"He [Sarfaraz] is coming from an injury lay-off. But before getting injured, he scored two-three centuries in the Buchi Babu Trophy. And coming back against J&K in the previous match, he made a nice 42. It was very unfortunate [for him] to have gotten run out. But for him, I don't think playing India ‘A' is important," added Thakur.