Vidarbha take on Uttar Pradesh as Ranji resumes

 

 

 

THE long wait of exactly 100 weeks will be over when the teams take to field in the first-ever split Ranji Trophy that starts after missing one season, on Thursday. In their four-team Elite Group G, former two-time champions Vidarbha will play Uttar Pradesh at Gurugram in Haryana. In the new format, every team gets to play just three matches before the knock-outs, and that makes every game very important. Before departing for the venue a week ago, Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal had said that the opening session of the first match will be very crucial and that the team would like to start it on a very positive note. Interestingly, Faiz, who will be playing his 126th First-Class match, is the only player in the current team who has played against Uttar Pradesh. Faiz played against UP way back in 2012-13. Even India speedster Umesh Yadav, who will be playing in the all-important season opener, has not played a Ranji game against the side from north India. But Yadav’s presence will be a big boost for the side.

 

Though their rivalry history is not with Vidarbha, much time has passed and once the also-ran side, is now a team to reckon with. For the records, the teams have clashed on 45 occasions in Ranji Trophy with Vidarbha winning just two while UP won 17 times. As many as 25 games ended in draws and one did not produce a result. Vidarbha, who boast of a well-balanced side, would try their best to set that record straight. Faiz and young Atharva Taide, who both had good county season late last year, will open the innings and will be followed by a solid middle order comprising the likes of professional Ganesh Satish, Apoorv Wankhade and vice-captain-stumper Akshay Wadkar. Aditya Sarvate will be Vidarbha’s all-rounder while Rajneesh Gurbani, Lalit Yadav and Aditya Thakare are among the seamers who would share the new ball with Yadav.

 

Lanky offie Akshay Wakhare is most likely to partner Sarvate in spin department. However, the team think tank will decide on the combination after assessing the situation on the morning. Uttar Pradesh had named India player Kuldeep Yadav to lead the side but he is not available as he is part of the national team playing Twenty20s against West Indies. Even without him, UP are a good side and will present some serious fight in the four-day encounter. TEAMS Vidarbha: Faiz Fazal (C), Akshay Wadkar (VC), Atharva Taide, Ganesh Satish, Apoorv Wankhade, Siddhesh Wath (WK), R Sanjay, Mohit Kale, Yash Rathod, Akshay Wakhare, Aditya Sarvate, Akshay Karnewar, Rajneesh Gurbani, Lalit Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Praful Hinge, Siddhesh Neral, Ganesh Bhosale and Umesh Yadav. Uttar Pradesh: Karan Sharma, Rishabh Bansal, Priyam Garg, Hardeep Singh, Jasmer Dhankhar, Dhruv Jurel, Aryan Juyal, Madhav Kaushik, Kritagya Singh, Kunal Yadav, Parth Mishra, Akshdeep Nath, Prince Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot, Shanu Saini, Samarth Singh, Sameer Choudhary, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Sharma, Rinku Singh, Yash Dayal, Zeeshan Ansari.