Royal battle at Eden Gardens

Table-toppers Mumbai face Ranji runners-up Bengal today amid player absence on both sides, weather woes

Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane during a practice session at Wankhede last week. Pic/Shadab Khan

Mumbai arrive at the Eden Gardens smarting from Monday’s defeat at home to Uttar Pradesh. When Ajinkya Rahane & Co take on reigning runners-up Bengal in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group B tie from Friday, they will want to prove that the Wankhede woes were, but an aberration in what has otherwise been a spectacular start.

Sole blow

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Three big victories before the UP blip have had Mumbai keeping their place atop the points table at the half-way stage of the group league. National duty has always depleted Mumbai, and they were further hit by the call-up of Sarfaraz Khan as an injury replacement before the second Test against England. While the return of Prithvi Shaw from a long injury layoff is a big boost, he will have to feel his way in after being away from the game for nearly six months. If he gets into the groove quickly, it will be a huge relief for a top-order where skipper Rahane is among those struggling.

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Prithvi Shaw

No such problems for Shivam Dube, who has been in great form, scoring big regularly and chipping in with wickets too. Off-spinner Tanush Kotian and left-arm orthodox spinner Shams Mulani done well too.

Bengal, unbeaten so far, too have their missing men. Their feared pace attack has been seriously compromised with Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar called to national duty. While Abhimanyu Easwaran’s absence has weakened the top-order, an injured Shahbaz Ahmed means the spin department has taken a hit as well.

Veteran Tiwari in form

Skipper Manoj Tiwary, veteran of many a battle against Mumbai, is coming off a century against Assam. So is Anustup Majumdar, who has been Bengal’s most prolific run-getter for some time now.

Overnight rain prevented practice, and the threat is likely to loom over the next couple of days.

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