Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur expects a hard-fought contest against a strong Karnataka side when the two domestic heavyweights clash in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA-BKC ground. Returning after injury, Thakur said both teams are experienced in knockouts, while Mumbai are hopeful of Sarfaraz Khan recovering from illness
Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal during a practice session at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday. pic/Satej Shinde
Mumbai vs Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match. It doesn’t get any better than this. And, if it’s in the knock-out stage, the stakes are even higher. Karnataka, who once stopped Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy title-winning streak at 15 in the 1970s, are determined to win their ninth title. It has been 11 seasons since Karnataka last won (in Mumbai when they defeated Tamil Nadu in the 2014-15 final). Karnataka haven’t made it to the final since.
New skipper Padikkal
Having made it to the quarter-final this season on the back of their newly-appointed captain Devdutt Padikkal’s breezy 120 not out against Punjab in their last league match when they were faced with a must-win situation, and boasting of a strong batting line-up, Karnataka will pose a major challenge to the home side that enjoys playing at the MCA-BKC ground. Mumbai have had outright wins more often than not here.
Shardul Thakur
Mumbai’s captain Shardul Thakur, back in the Ranji squad after missing the last two league matches due to a calf injury, is confident of his players rising up to the challenge posed by Karnataka’s line-up that boasts of Test batters KL Rahul, Karun Nair, and former Test opener Mayank Agarwal.
“Two domestic giants playing each other will provide a good, competitive game. We want to challenge ourselves. We want to play good cricket, whichever team comes. Karnataka are a balanced team. They have won a lot of tournaments in the past few years. Their players are fairly experienced and know how to go about in the knockout games. So are our boys too. It’s going to be a tough game,” Thakur said on Thursday.
Mumbai has been hit by injuries to key players this season. Only Siddhesh Lad, who is the fifth highest run-getter in this season (737 runs at 92.12), Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, gloveman Akash Anand and pacer Tushar Deshpande, have featured in all the seven games.
Mumbai’s think-tank is hoping Sarfaraz is fit to play on Friday as he is down with ‘viral fever’. He has been unwell and hospitalised. A team official has said his test reports are negative and he is being monitored closely by doctors. Thakur added: “On Wednesday and Thursday, a few of the team members visited the hospital to see him. We’re hoping he will play.”
Mumbai hold the edge
Mumbai will believe they have the edge in familiar conditions, but they are also aware of the threat posed by Karnataka’s batters, besides their bowlers which include Test quick Prasidh Krishna, who enjoys the bounce of the BKC ground, and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who has taken 37 wickets this season.
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