Fringe players have plenty to play for

With the Indian team performing brilliantly and no immediate international assignment due,the 36th Deodhar Trophy beginning...

With the Indian team performing brilliantly and no immediate international assignment due,the 36th Deodhar Trophy beginning here on Friday may appear to be mundane fare. But the fringe players sweating it out do not lack motivation.

Not only has the tournament added some foreign flavour in the form of Zimbabwe Presidents XI,it is also likely to see some very keen contests over the next six days. Central Zone are the defending champions,but with six of the top nine run-getters this season in their ranks,the favourites tag rests firmly with West Zone.

Cheteshwar Pujara,Ajinkya Rahane,Ravindra Jadeja and Abhishek Nayar would be the mainstays for West,who begin their campaign against South Zone at the Barabati Stadium on Friday. For South,captain S Badrinath will be the key player along with Robin Uthappa.

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In Group B,Central are pitted against 11-times champions North Zone at the nondescript Ravenshaw Ground,hosting its maiden first-class match.

Shukla pulls out

However,East Zone seem to have a crisis on their hand even before the tournament begins,with veteran Laxmi Ratan Shukla pulling out with a side strain. However,sources say that the main reason is his reluctance to play under newly-appointed captain Manoj Tiwary.