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regular-article-logo Thursday, 02 May 2024

Ranji Trophy Final: Buoyant Vidarbha ready to fight Mumbai might

Another critical-stage performance will certainly bode well for the seamer all-rounder when it comes to brightening his chances of a return to the Team India fold

Our Bureau, PTI Calcutta, Mumbai Published 10.03.24, 09:11 AM
Vidarbha's bowler Yash Thakur celebrates the wicket of Madhya Pradesh's batter Kulwant Khejroliya during the Ranji Trophy semi-final cricket match between Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh, in Nagpur, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Vidarbha's bowler Yash Thakur celebrates the wicket of Madhya Pradesh's batter Kulwant Khejroliya during the Ranji Trophy semi-final cricket match between Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh, in Nagpur, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. PTI

Alongside the players who have already made a mark in the competition, the final of this Ranji Trophy also provides with an opportunity to the likes of Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and even Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane to put in an impactful performance and serve a reminder to the selectors.

If these cricketers with a fair amount of Team India experience can capitalise on this chance, they will surely at least make the selectors sit up and take notice. Particularly Shardul, who played a massive role with his century and key wickets in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu.

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Another critical-stage performance will certainly bode well for the seamer all-rounder when it comes to brightening his chances of a return to the Team India fold.

However, irrespective of Mumbai’s might, Vidarbha appear more than ready to crush their opponents’ hopes of a 42nd Ranji crown. "You can never tell which player can click since it is a final.

“Obviously, we have strategies for Mumbai's international players, particularly Prithvi, Shreyas, Shardul and Ajinkya. But we have one or two plans ready for each of their players,” Akshay Wadkar said on Saturday, the eve of the final.

“It is a final match, and all the players are threatening that way. You cannot leave out any player and go into the game thinking that you’d be fine even if you do not have any strategy against a specific player,” added Wadkar.

Winning the Ranji Trophy in two consecutive seasons (2017-18, 2018-19) gave a lot of confidence to the Vidarbha unit, the skipper emphasised.

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