Irrespective of the deadly duo's performance in this year's Ranji final, which started yesterday, the match will definitely be remembered for the exclusion of yet another veteran Amol Muzumdar
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Dropping Muzumdar was a difficult decision: Amre
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Apart from Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan's exploits, Mumbai's last Ranji final, in February 2007, will be remembered for veteran Nilesh Kulkarni's exclusion from the playing XI.
Muzumdar, the highest capped Mumbai player, was preferred over another former skipper Sairaj Bahutule for last week's semi-finals but managed just 11 runs from two innings. The Wall of Mumbai cricket is just 31 runs shy of becoming the highest run-getter in the history of the tournament.
Still, the team management decided to go in with Bahutule for the final. "It was the toughest decision I had to make during my tenure," coach Praveen Amre told MiD DAY.
"The reason to ask Amol to sit out was to maintain a balance in the team. It was very tough on us, considering he has been the bedrock of Mumbai cricket for the last 15 years."
Well, after being benched for the 2006-07 Ranji final, Kulkarni has featured in just a single Ranji Trophy game.
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Will it be the same case with another great servant of Mumbai cricket?
Watch this space.
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