It’s been 23 years since Madhya Pradesh last entered the Ranji Trophy final. The one constant between 1999 and now is Chandrakant Pandit, the former India batsman.

Pandit the coach will be hoping to do what Pandit the skipper couldn’t in the title round against Karnataka, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final session of the match. Standing between him and a third Ranji crown in the last four editions is the team he represented as player and coach in many title-winning campaigns, his home side Mumbai.