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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, Feb 4: Delhi, having maintained an all-win record against hosts Maharashtra, start favourites when the two sides clash in the Ranji Trophy Super League cricket opener at the Nehru Stadium here tomorrow.
Delhi have never lost to Maharashtra in the last four meetings but playing at home is expected to be a psychological advantage for the hosts.
Delhi’s skipper Ajay Sharma, nursing an eye infection, is still to arrive. Coach Rakesh Shukla sounded half-hearted while harbouring hope that Sharma would arrive along with team manager Surendra Khanna by the evening flight.
Putting aside their previous losses, Maharashtra skipper Surendra Bhave is in a positive state of mind. The grass on the wicket, traditionally a batsman’s paradise, provides Bhave hope that his bowlers derive some advantage.
Bhave, however, is not looking too far ahead into the Super League, and spells out his approach: “For the moment we are focussing on this match and will take it as it comes.”
Curator Vaman Lele provides some intrigue: “This is a different wicket and definitely not the same as that used for the Maharashtra versus Mumbai match. The slight grass on the wicket will soon disappear and the bowlers will have nothing left to cheer,” he added.
The Maharashtra think-tank declared their first 12 that excludes Niranjan Godbole, Jaideep Narse and Iqbal Siddique. It opens the strong possibility of left-arm seamer Sachin Nair making his debut in the four-day game.
Bhave reflects on the prospect: “The inclusion of Sachin could bring in some variation with a right and left-arm opening attack.”
The host team’s batting strength revolves around skipper Surendra Bhave, Shantanu Sugvekar, Hemant Kinikar, Abhijit Kale while the bowling leans on seamers Milind Kulkarni, Siddarath Godbole, Sachin Nair and Umesh Gotkhindikar along with off spinner Mandar Sane.
“We will miss Hrishikesh Kanitkar, ”said Bhave who pins hopes on Shantanu to sustain a good run of scores against Delhi in the last two seasons.
“After 200 against Saurashtra in this season’s opener, Shantanu has not come good and this match could give him a chance to make his presence felt,” Bhave hoped.
Sharma’s arrival would boost the visitors ranks which include players with international representation behind them. Batsmen Robin Singh (Jr), Nikhil Chopra and Rahul Sanghvi in addition to wicketkeeper-batsman Vijay Dahiya are the Delhi players who will draw special attention.
Their seam attack will be spearheaded by Amit Bhandari, Robin Singh (Jr) and Ashish Nehra while the spin department would deploy Chopra, Sanghvi and Virendra Sehwag. Batting mainstays comprise Vijay Dahiva, Ashu Dani, Akash Chopra, Akash Malhotra, Pankaj Joshi and Sehwag.
Teams
Delhi: Ajay Sharma (capt), Vijay Dahiya (wk), Ashu Dani, Akash Malhotra, Rahul Sanghvi, Virendra Sehwag, Pankaj Joshi, Mithun Minhas, Robin Singh (Jr), Devendra Sharma, Sandeep Angurwala, Nikhil Chopra, Rajneesh Chopra, Akash Chopra, Ashish Nehra, Amit Bhandari.
Coach: Rakesh Shukla.
Manager: Surendra Khanna.
Maharashtra: Surendra Bhave (capt), Sanjay Khondalkar (wk), Shantanu Sugvekar, Abhijit Kale, Sachin Nair, Ashutosh Agashe, Satyan Lande, Milind Kulkarni, Manadar Sane, Umesh Gothindikar, Hemant Kinikar, Siddarath Godbole.
Manager: Shyam Oak.
Umpires: B K Sadashiv and B K Tarapore.
Match observer: Mahendra Kumar.
