Ranji Trophy: Defending champs Mumbai face Tamil Nadu challenge

Mumbai cricket team

Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni (left) celebrates the wicket of Saurashtra's Cheteshwar Pujara during the Ranji Trophy final in Pune last February

The ironical side of cricket afflicts the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team thanks to the Indian cricket board's decision to schedule matches at neutral venues for all teams. The defending champions will open their domestic season against Tamil Nadu at Lahli in the state of Haryana while Haryana, the 1991 Ranji champions, take on Services in Mumbai at the Cricket Club of India.

Lahli which is 1500 kms away from Mumbai, is not exactly unknown. It was here where Sachin Tendulkar played his last first-class match for Mumbai against Haryana in 2013. Mumbai, the 41-time Ranji Trophy champions will take on Abhinav Mukund's Tamil Nadu at the Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium from today.

Aditya Tare

Mumbai skipper Aditya Tare will have to cope with the absence of in-form batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad, who are on the injured list. Experienced batsman Bhavin Thakkar and left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah have shifted to Kerala.

Shardul loss
Yesterday, pacer Shardul Thakur was included in the Indian team for the Indore Test due to an injury to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, excitement comes in the form of India under-19 batsman Armaan Jaffer, who will probably make his Ranji debut today.

"We have to start this season with a new combination of players. Injuries are beyond our control. However, I am confident about the batting although Shreyas and Siddhesh are not around. I believe we have batsmen of good quality who I expect to come good," Tare told mid-day yesterday.

Mumbai's batting arsenal includes opener Akhil Herwadkar, Jay Bista, Suryakumar Yadav, the experienced Abhishek Nayar and the skipper himself.

Pawar returns
Opener Kaustub Pawar, who played his last Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra two years ago, makes a comeback in the 15-member squad. The pace bowling department will be manned by Dhawal Kulkarni who was in Australia recently, representing India 'A'.

Balvinder Singh Sandhu Jr lends strength to the attack which also comprises left- arm spinners Vishal Dabholkar and Vijay Gohil. "We have some very talented young bowlers and I am quite positive about them performing," said Tare, who played that Mumbai vs Haryana game in 2013 when the visitors triumphed in a closely fought battle which they won by four wickets.

"It is very hot and humid and the weather will play a huge role in how the pitch will play. It looks a good track with some grass on it," said Tare. His opponents Tamil Nadu have always scrapped hard against Mumbai and there is no need to remind the skipper that TN were his opponents in the 2014-15 Ranji final.