In the final,the battle between the two best teams in domestic cricket will also witness a sub-plot being played out. Only fourteen runs separate Rajasthans Robin Bist (885) and Tamil Nadus Abhinav Mukund (871) on the top of the Ranji Trophy run-scorers list. When it comes to their first class-record this season,Mukund has 1,043 while Bist is just 47 behind. On the way back to the dressing room,Bist stopped briefly in the middle and tapped his bat on the Chepauk pitch. In this season,Bist has played on various surfaces wet,green,rank-turner and a belter but irrespective of the nature of the wicket,the Rajasthan middle-order batsman will want to make runs in the big final. This season has been standout for the young Rajasthan batsmen. In last years final he made 77 before being adjudged leg-before wicket. This year he will want to score a century and try and cross the 1,000-run mark. Mukund scored back-to-back centuries in the Irani Trophy and his form has been consistent this season. Bist and Mukund exchanged pleasantries at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk but once they step on the field no concessions will be given. It is a great feeling when people talk about you being the highest run-getter but from a personal point of view I have not tried to attach too much importance to statistics. I have consciously tried not to worry or think about whether or not I will cross the 1000-run mark. For me,its just about batting well. May be after the final I will sit and enjoy the fact that I have collected so many runs this year, Bist said. Mukund also doesnt want to play the numbers game. Yes,I am aware of where I am on the run-scorers list and what I have done in this season so far. But you dont go into a game thinking that you will get a hundred or that you might cross the 1,000-run in the season. You will have to concentrate on your basics, Mukund said. While Mukund is the more experienced of the two,Bist is banking on his experience of playing in last years final.
