The leftovers party

Depleted Mumbai favourites
Mumbai: In spite of a depleted bowling attack, hosts and reigning champions Mumbai begin firm favourites against Madhya Pradesh in their Elite division group A match at the Wankhede Stadium. The home team are without the services of captain Sairaj Bahutule, Ramesh Powar and injured medium-pacer Avishkar Salvi. But the presence of Ajit Agarkar, who has been named the vice-captain, gives the Vinod Kambli-led team the extra edge in pace bowling on a wicket that should help the medium pacers at least initially. Mumbai8217;s batting, with the opening duo of Wasim Jaffer and Vinayak Mane running into form with centuries in their drawn opening tie against Railways at Delhi, looks pretty strong for the MP attack which would rely a lot on veteran leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani to give it the extra sharpness.

Time to improve record
Bangalore: Both Karnataka and Gujarat will look to open their points tally when they clash in the Elite group A league encounter at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In their opening matches, Gujarat drew with Delhi, who collected two points for gaining first innings lead, while Bengal humbled Karnataka by 116 runs to pocket full points. Karnataka have some batting worries to sort out. Barring Sujith Somasundar, who top-scored with 48 and 46 in two innings for the team, big scores have eluded other batsmen.

Other matches

Punjab v Assam Punjab
Uttar Pradesh vs Tamil Nadu Kanpur
Maharashtra v Baroda Pune

8230; but Ganguly can add some life
New Delhi: Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to play against Railways in Bengal8217;s Ranji Trophy Elite group 8216;A8217; match but his availability notwithstanding, the visitors are confident of putting it across the home side in the contest at the Karnail Singh Stadium. Ganguly, who was yesterday suspended for two Tests by the ICC and would miss the series against South Africa, is still in Kolkata and his availability for the match would be known only later tonight. Bengal coach and former India all-rounder Karsan Ghavri was pleasantly surprised by the track which wore a green look as against its dust bowl reputation.

PLATE DIVISION

Rajasthan vs Vidarbha
Nagpur: Rajasthan, relegated to Plate group, will clash with Vidarbha in the match which begins here. Rajasthan, who lost five matches outright last season, are looking forward to redeem their position this season.

Kerala take on Himachal
Palakkad: Kerala will have a slight edge over Himachal Pradesh when the two teams meet here. Kerala are certain to go all out for a win.

Kerala8217;s bowling department, spearheaded by Tinu Yohannan and K N Ananthapadmanabhan, looks very strong.