The Mumbai think-tank surprisingly sent pace bowler Dhawal Kulkarni to open the innings in Baroda yesterday. When asked about the move, coach Chandrakant Pandit said: "It was to see off the early advantage that bowlers have on a fresh wicket. We wanted to send our regular batsmen when the pitch eased out.


Dhawal Kulkarni

"I had prepared Dhawal to open. We wanted to do that in our last match (vs TN), but we did not bat first then. Dhawal played superbly.